Bolt — Defs

01 n. A shaft or missile intended to be shot from a crossbow or catapult, esp. a short, stout, blunt-headed arrow; a quarrel; an arrow, or that w…

1.
A shaft or missile intended to be shot from a crossbow or catapult, esp. a short, stout, blunt-headed arrow; a quarrel; an arrow, or that which resembles an arrow; a dart.
“Look that the crossbowmen lack not bolts.” — Sir W. Scott.

“A fool's bolt is soon shot.” — Shak.
2.
Lightning; a thunderbolt.
3.
A strong pin, of iron or other material, used to fasten or hold something in place, often having a head at one end and screw thread cut upon the other end.
4.
A sliding catch, or fastening, as for a door or gate; the portion of a lock which is shot or withdrawn by the action of the key.
5.
An iron to fasten the legs of a prisoner; a shackle; a fetter.[Obs.]
“Away with him to prison! lay bolts enough upon him.” — Shak.
6.
A compact package or roll of cloth, as of canvas or silk, often containing about forty yards.
7.
A bundle, as of oziers.

Phrases & compounds

Bolt auger — an auger of large size; an auger to make holes for the bolts used by shipwrights.

Bolt and nut — a metallic pin with a head formed upon one end, and a movable piece (the nut) screwed upon a thread cut upon the other end. See B, C, and D, in illust. above.

02 v. t. To shoot; to discharge or drive forth.

imp. & p. p. Bolted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bolting

1.
To shoot; to discharge or drive forth.
2.
To utter precipitately; to blurt or throw out.
“I hate when Vice can bolt her arguments.” — Milton.
3.
To swallow without chewing; as, to bolt food; often used with down.
4.
To refuse to support, as a nomination made by a party to which one has belonged or by a caucus in which one has taken part.(U. S. Politics)
5.
To cause to start or spring forth; to dislodge, as conies, rabbits, etc.(Sporting)
6.
To fasten or secure with, or as with, a bolt or bolts, as a door, a timber, fetters; to shackle; to restrain.
“Let tenfold iron bolt my door.” — Langhorn.

“Which shackles accidents and bolts up change.” — Shak.

03 v. i. To start forth like a bolt or arrow; to spring abruptly; to come or go suddenly; to dart; as, to bolt out of the room.

1.
To start forth like a bolt or arrow; to spring abruptly; to come or go suddenly; to dart; as, to bolt out of the room.
“This Puck seems but a dreaming dolt, . . . And oft out of a bush doth bolt.” — Drayton.
2.
To strike or fall suddenly like a bolt.
“His cloudless thunder bolted on their heads.” — Milton.
3.
To spring suddenly aside, or out of the regular path; as, the horse bolted.
4.
To refuse to support a nomination made by a party or a caucus with which one has been connected; to break away from a party.(U.S. Politics)

04 adv. In the manner of a bolt; suddenly; straight; unbendingly.

1.
In the manner of a bolt; suddenly; straight; unbendingly.
“[He] came bolt up against the heavy dragoon.” — Thackeray.

Phrases & compounds

Bolt upright — Perfectly upright; perpendicular; straight up; unbendingly erect.

05 n. A sudden spring or start; a sudden spring aside; as, the horse made a bolt.

1.
A sudden spring or start; a sudden spring aside; as, the horse made a bolt.
2.
A sudden flight, as to escape creditors.
“This gentleman was so hopelessly involved that he contemplated a bolt to America -- or anywhere.” — Compton Reade.
3.
A refusal to support a nomination made by the party with which one has been connected; a breaking away from one's party.(U. S. Politics)

06 v. t. To sift or separate the coarser from the finer particles of, as bran from flour, by means of a bolter; to separate, assort, refine, or puri…

imp. & p. p. Bolted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bolting

1.
To sift or separate the coarser from the finer particles of, as bran from flour, by means of a bolter; to separate, assort, refine, or purify by other means.
“He now had bolted all the flour.” — Spenser.

“Ill schooled in bolted language.” — Shak.
2.
To separate, as if by sifting or bolting; -- with out.
“Time and nature will bolt out the truth of things.” — L'Estrange.
3.
To discuss or argue privately, and for practice, as cases at law.(Law)
“This bolts the matter fairly to the bran.” — Harte.

“The report of the committee was examined and sifted and bolted to the bran.” — Burke.

Phrases & compounds

To bolt to the bran — to examine thoroughly, so as to separate or discover everything important.

07 n. A sieve, esp. a long fine sieve used in milling for bolting flour and meal; a bolter.

1.
A sieve, esp. a long fine sieve used in milling for bolting flour and meal; a bolter.