n. [ AS. bolt; akin to Icel. bolti, Dan. bolt, D. bout, OHG. bolz, G. bolz, bolzen; of uncertain origin. ] 1. A shaft or missile intended to be shot from a crossbow or catapult, esp. a short, stout, blunt-headed arrow; a quarrel; an arrow, or that which resembles an arrow; a dart. [ 1913 Webster ]

Look that the crossbowmen lack not bolts. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fool's bolt is soon shot. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Lightning; a thunderbolt. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A strong pin, of iron or other material, used to fasten or hold something in place, often having a head at one end and screw thread cut upon the other end. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A sliding catch, or fastening, as for a door or gate; the portion of a lock which is shot or withdrawn by the action of the key. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. An iron to fasten the legs of a prisoner; a shackle; a fetter. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Away with him to prison!
lay bolts enough upon him. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A compact package or roll of cloth, as of canvas or silk, often containing about forty yards. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A bundle, as of oziers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bolt auger, an auger of large size; an auger to make holes for the bolts used by shipwrights. --
Bolt and nut, a metallic pin with a head formed upon one end, and a movable piece (the nut) screwed upon a thread cut upon the other end. See B, C, and D, in illust. above. [ 1913 Webster ]

See Tap bolt, Screw bolt, and Stud bolt. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To start forth like a bolt or arrow; to spring abruptly; to come or go suddenly; to dart; as, to bolt out of the room. [ 1913 Webster ]

This Puck seems but a dreaming dolt, . . .
And oft out of a bush doth bolt. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To strike or fall suddenly like a bolt. [ 1913 Webster ]

His cloudless thunder bolted on their heads. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To spring suddenly aside, or out of the regular path; as, the horse bolted. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (U.S. Politics) To refuse to support a nomination made by a party or a caucus with which one has been connected; to break away from a party. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of a bolt; suddenly; straight; unbendingly. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ He ] came bolt up against the heavy dragoon. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bolt upright. (a) Perfectly upright; perpendicular; straight up; unbendingly erect. Addison. (b) On the back at full length. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Bolt, v. i. ] 1. A sudden spring or start; a sudden spring aside; as, the horse made a bolt. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A sudden flight, as to escape creditors. [ 1913 Webster ]

This gentleman was so hopelessly involved that he contemplated a bolt to America -- or anywhere. Compton Reade. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (U. S. Politics) A refusal to support a nomination made by the party with which one has been connected; a breaking away from one's party. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bolted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bolting. ] [ OE. bolten, boulten, OF. buleter, F. bluter, fr. Ll. buletare, buratare, cf. F. bure coarse woolen stuff; fr. L. burrus red. See Borrel, and cf. Bultel. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To sift or separate the coarser from the finer particles of, as bran from flour, by means of a bolter; to separate, assort, refine, or purify by other means. [ 1913 Webster ]

He now had bolted all the flour. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ill schooled in bolted language. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To separate, as if by sifting or bolting; -- with out. [ 1913 Webster ]

Time and nature will bolt out the truth of things. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) To discuss or argue privately, and for practice, as cases at law. Jacob. [ 1913 Webster ]

To bolt to the bran, to examine thoroughly, so as to separate or discover everything important. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

This bolts the matter fairly to the bran. Harte. [ 1913 Webster ]

The report of the committee was examined and sifted and bolted to the bran. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A sieve, esp. a long fine sieve used in milling for bolting flour and meal; a bolter. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bolted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bolting. ] 1. To shoot; to discharge or drive forth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To utter precipitately; to blurt or throw out. [ 1913 Webster ]

I hate when Vice can bolt her arguments. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To swallow without chewing; as, to bolt food; often used with down. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (U. S. Politics) To refuse to support, as a nomination made by a party to which one has belonged or by a caucus in which one has taken part. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Sporting) To cause to start or spring forth; to dislodge, as conies, rabbits, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To fasten or secure with, or as with, a bolt or bolts, as a door, a timber, fetters; to shackle; to restrain. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let tenfold iron bolt my door. Langhorn. [ 1913 Webster ]

Which shackles accidents and bolts up change. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Boultel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who bolts; esp.: (a) A horse which starts suddenly aside. (b) A man who breaks away from his party. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A kind of fishing line. See Boulter. [ 1913 Webster ]