Swob vs. Swab

Swobnoun

See Swab.

Swabnoun

(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.

Swobnoun

cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors

Swabnoun

A sample taken with a swab piece of absorbent material.

Swobverb

wash with a swab or a mop;

‘swab the ship's decks’;

Swabnoun

A piece of material used for cleaning or sampling other items like musical instruments or guns.

Swobverb

apply (usually a liquid) to a surface;

‘dab the wall with paint’;

Swabnoun

A mop, especially on a ship.

Swabnoun

(slang) A sailor; a swabby.

Swabnoun

(slang) A naval officer's epaulet.

Swabverb

(transitive) To use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.

‘swab the deck of a ship’;

Swabverb

To clean with a mop or swab; to wipe when very wet, as after washing; as, to swab the desk of a ship.

Swabnoun

A kind of mop for cleaning floors, the desks of vessels, etc., esp. one made of rope-yarns or threads.

Swabnoun

A bit of sponge, cloth, or the like, fastened to a handle, for cleansing the mouth of a sick person, applying medicaments to deep-seated parts, etc.

Swabnoun

An epaulet.

Swabnoun

A cod, or pod, as of beans or pease.

Swabnoun

A sponge, or other suitable substance, attached to a long rod or handle, for cleaning the bore of a firearm.

Swabnoun

implement consisting of a small piece of cotton that is used to apply medication or cleanse a wound or obtain a specimen of a secretion

Swabnoun

cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors

Swabverb

wash with a swab or a mop;

‘swab the ship's decks’;

Swabverb

apply (usually a liquid) to a surface;

‘dab the wall with paint’;