Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
Bolt Login/Join
 
Member
posted
Are all the different meanings of "bolt" related? A workmate recently used it to mean a crossbow's projectile; Zeus chucked thunderbolts, drapers use bolts of cloth, I use bolts to fasten things together, and there's a bolt that blocks the breech in my rifle. Any other meanings I've missed?


It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. -J. Krishnamurti
 
Posts: 6187 | Location: Muncie, IndianaReply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
All the meanings you mention are related. There's also the verb with meanings including "to start, spring; to dart forth; to run to see prematurely; to break away from a political party." This was derived from the noun.

There's also bolt, boult "to sift; to pass through a sieve or bolting-cloth" and bolt, boult "a flour-sieve" which have a different etymology.
 
Posts: 2428Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of Kalleh
posted Hide Post
The OED adds these definitions:

Wood in special size for cleaving into laths.

Bookbinding. The fold at the top and front edge of a folded sheet.

And of course, you bolt food down when you're really hungry.
 
Posts: 24735 | Location: Chicago, USAReply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of arnie
posted Hide Post
Then there's the bolt you make for the door after bolting your food.


Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
 
Posts: 10940 | Location: LondonReply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by arnie:
Then there's the bolt you make for the door after bolting your food.

Which might be problematic if the door is bolted.


It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. -J. Krishnamurti
 
Posts: 6187 | Location: Muncie, IndianaReply With QuoteReport This Post
  Powered by Social Strata  
 


Copyright © 2002-12