swab

== English == === Etymology === Mid 17th century (in the sense 'mop for cleaning the decks'): back-formation from Middle English swabber (“sailor detailed to swab decks”), from Middle Dutch zwabber, from a Germanic base meaning 'splash' or 'sway', also found as nautical German Schwabber and Volga German Schwabber ("scrubber, mop, swab") === Pronunciation === enPR: swŏb, IPA(key): /swɒb/ Rhymes: -ɒb === Noun === swab (plural swabs) (medicine) A small piece of soft, absorbent material, such as gauze, used to clean wounds, apply medicine, or take samples of body fluids. Often attached to a stick or wire to aid access. A sample taken with a swab (piece of absorbent material). A piece of material used for cleaning or sampling other items like musical instruments or guns. A mop, especially on a ship. (slang) A sailor; a swabby. (slang) A naval officer's epaulet. ==== Synonyms ==== (sailor): swabby ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === swab (third-person singular simple present swabs, present participle swabbing, simple past and past participle swabbed) (transitive) To use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === AWBs, wabs == Egyptian == === Romanization === swab Manuel de Codage transliteration of swꜥb.