n. An arrow; especially, in archery, the arrow of a crossbow, which was short and thick as compared with a shaft.n. A thunderbolt; a stream of lightning: so named from its apparently darting like a bolt.n. An elongated bullet for a rifled cannon.n. A cylindrical jet, as of water or molten glass.n. A metallic pin or rod, used to hold objects together. It generally has screwthreads cut at one end, and sometimes at both, to receive a nut.n. A movable bar for fastening a door, gate, window-sash, or the like; specifically, that portion of a lock which is protruded from or drawn back within the case by the action of the key, and makes a fastening by being shot into a socket or keeper.n. An iron to fasten the legs of a prisoner; a shackle.n. In firearms: In a needle-gun, the sliding piece that thrusts the cartridge forward into the chamber and carries the firing-pin.n. In a snap-gun, the part that holds the barrel to the breech-mechanism.n. A roll or definite length of silk, canvas, tape, or other textile fabric, and also of wall-paper, as it comes from the maker ready for sale or use.n. A bundle. Of straw, a quantity loosely tied up. Also bolting or bolton.n. Of osier rods, a quantity bound up for market, 3½ feet around the lower band.n. Of reeds, one of 3 feet in circumference.n. The closed ends of leaves of an uncut book which present a double or quadruple fold.n. The comb of a bobbinnet machine on which the carriages move.n. In wood-working: A mass of wood from which anything may be cut or formed.n. Boards held together, after being sawed from the log, by an uncut end or stub-shot.n. A name for certain plants, as the globe-flower and marsh-marigold.n. The act of running off suddenly; a sudden spring or start: as, the horse made a bolt.n. In politics, the act of withdrawing from a nominating convention as a manifestation of disapproval of its acts; hence, refusal to support a candidate or the ticket presented by or in the name of the party to which one has hitherto been attached; a partial or temporary desertion of one's party.n. The act of bolting food.To go off like a bolt or arrow; shoot forth suddenly; spring out with speed and suddenness: commonly followed by out: as, to bolt out of the house.To spring aside or away suddenly; start and run off; make a bolt.In politics, to withdraw from a nominating convention as a means of showing disapproval of its acts; hence, to cease to act in full accord with one's party; refuse to support a measure or candidate adopted by a majority of one's colleagues or party associates.To fall suddenly, like a thunderbolt.To run to seed prematurely, as early-sown root-crops (turnips, etc.), without the usual thickening of the root, or after it.To send off like a bolt or arrow; shoot; discharge.To start or spring (game); cause to bolt up or out, as hares, rabbits, and the like.To expel; drive out suddenly.To blurt out; ejaculate or utter hastily.To swallow hurriedly or without chewing: as, to bolt one's food.[After I., 3.] In politics, to break away from and refuse to support (the candidate, the ticket, or the platform presented by or in the name of the party to which one has hitherto adhered); leave or abandon: as, to bolt the presidential candidate.To fasten or secure with a bolt or an iron pin, as a door, a plank, fetters, or anything else.To fasten as with bolts; shackle; restrain.Like a bolt or arrow: as, “rising bolt from his seat,”Suddenly; with sudden meeting or collision.To sift or pass through a sieve or bolter so as to separate the coarser from the finer particles, as bran from flour; sift out: as, to bolt meal; to bolt out the bran.To examine or search into, as if by sifting; sift; examine thoroughly: sometimes with out, and often in an old proverbial expression, to bolt to the bran.To moot, or bring forward for discussion, as in a moot-court. See bolting, 2.n. A sieve; a machine for sifting flour.n. In the English inns of court, a hypothetical point or case discussed for the sake of practice.In archery, to loose too soon after drawing the bow. See hold.In golf, to putt with so much force that the ball will go some distance past the hole if it fails to go into it.