bolt
/boʊlt/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.04 in modern English
6
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw.
noun
Latch-related senses
noun
Latch-related senses
noun
Latch-related senses
Example Sentences
- "There was the noise of a bolt shot back, and the door opened a few inches, enough to show a long snout and a pair of sleepy blinking eyes."
- "He shall to prison, and there die in boults."
- "Away with him to prison! Lay bolts enough upon him:"
- "All kinds of vegetables may be used as a topping, but the best are strongly flavoured ones without too much moisture, such as celery, garlic bolts, chives, scallions, or various beans (long beans, green beans etc.) ..."
- "She ordered Cat's Ear Noodles heaped with garlic bolts and tomatoes, the broth thick with cumin, laced with black vinegar. The girl caught her accent, the sibilant sing-song of the south, and smiled, tilting her head questioningly."
- "Mr. Cole, Basket-maker...has lost near 300 boults of rods"
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeld- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *bʰóldos? Proto-Germanic *bultaz Proto-West Germanic *bolt Old English bolt Middle English bolt English bolt From Middle English bolt, from Old English bolt, from Proto-West Germanic *bolt, from Proto-Germanic *bultaz, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeld- (“to knock, strike”). Compare Lithuanian beldu (“I knock”), baldas (“pole for striking”). Akin to Dutch and West Frisian bout, German Bolz or Bolzen, Danish bolt, Swedish bult, Icelandic bolti. The association of thunder and lightning with 'bolts' is found back into prehistory in many cultures, at least in Eurasia. It comes from the long-standing widespread belief that lightning was caused by bolts, darts, or stones hurtling down from the sky to the earth. This belief was still regarded as commonplace until at least 1929.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: bolt, *bolt, *bultaz, *bʰeld-, bulten, -
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /boʊlt/
- British English: /bɒlt/
Usage
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in People.