swab
noun
[ swɒb ]
• an absorbent pad or piece of material used in surgery and medicine for cleaning wounds, applying medication, or taking specimens.
• a mop or other absorbent device for cleaning or mopping up a floor or other surface.
• a contemptible person.
• "‘Avast, ye swabs,’ she shouted"
swab
verb
• clean (a wound or surface) with a swab.
• "the crew were swabbing down the decks"
Origin:
mid 17th century (in the sense ‘mop for cleaning the decks’): back-formation from swabber ‘sailor detailed to swab decks’, from early modern Dutch zwabber, from a Germanic base meaning ‘splash’ or ‘sway’.
