bolt.
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.
Meaning & usage
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.
Latch-related senses A sliding pin or bar in a lock or latch mechanism.
Latch-related senses A bar of wood or metal dropped in horizontal hooks on a door and adjoining wall or between the two sides of a double door, to prevent the door(s) from being forced open.
Latch-related senses A sliding mechanism to chamber and unchamber a cartridge in a firearm.
An iron to fasten the legs of a prisoner; a shackle; a fetter.
A stalk or scape (of garlic, onion, etc).
A large roll of fabric or similar material, as a bolt of cloth.
A large roll of fabric or similar material, as a bolt of cloth. The standard linear measurement of canvas for use at sea: 39 yards.
Senses involving sudden movement A small personal-armour-piercing missile for short-range use, or (in common usage though deprecated by experts) a short arrow, intended to be shot from a crossbow or a catapult.
Senses involving sudden movement A lightning spark, i.e., a lightning bolt. (See thunderbolt.)
He had seen lightning bolts yesterday night.
Senses involving sudden movement A sudden event, action or emotion.
The problem's solution struck him like a bolt from the blue.
Senses involving sudden movement A sudden spring or start; a sudden leap aside.
The horse made a bolt.
Senses involving sudden movement A sudden flight, as to escape creditors.
Senses involving sudden movement A refusal to support a nomination made by the party with which one has been connected; a breaking away from one's party.
Senses involving sudden movement A burst of speed or efficiency.
Where this word comes from
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.
To connect or assemble pieces using a bolt.
Bolt the vice to the bench.
To affix in a crude or unnatural manner.
To secure a bolt or bolts; to lock using a bolt.
Bolt the door.
To flee, to depart, to accelerate away suddenly.
Seeing the snake, the horse bolted.
The actor forgot his line and bolted from the stage.
To escape.
To cause to start or spring forth; to dislodge (an animal being hunted).
to bolt a rabbit
To strike or fall suddenly like a bolt.
To produce flower stalks and flowers or seeds quickly or prematurely; to form a bolt (stalk or scape); to go to seed.
Lettuce and spinach will bolt as the weather warms up.
To swallow food without chewing it.
To drink one's drink very quickly; to down a drink.
Come on, everyone, bolt your drinks; I want to go to the next pub!
To refuse to support a nomination made by a party or caucus with which one has been connected; to break away from a party.
To utter precipitately; to blurt or throw out.
Where this word comes from
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.
Suddenly; straight; unbendingly.
The soldiers stood bolt upright for inspection.
Where this word comes from
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.
To sift, especially through a cloth.
To sift the bran and germ from wheat flour.
Graham flour is unbolted flour; in contrast, some other flours have been bolted.
To separate, assort, refine, or purify by other means.
To discuss or argue privately, and for practice, as cases at law.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English bulten, from Anglo-Norman buleter, Old French bulter (modern French bluter), from a Germanic source originally meaning "bag, pouch" cognate with Middle High German biuteln (“to sift”), from Proto-Germanic *buzdô (“beetle, grub, swelling”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰūs- (“to move quickly”). Cognate with Dutch buidel.
A sieve, especially a long fine sieve used in milling for bolting flour and meal; a bolter.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English bulten, from Anglo-Norman buleter, Old French bulter (modern French bluter), from a Germanic source originally meaning "bag, pouch" cognate with Middle High German biuteln (“to sift”), from Proto-Germanic *buzdô (“beetle, grub, swelling”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰūs- (“to move quickly”). Cognate with Dutch buidel.
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.