Swob vs. Swab: What's the Difference?

Variant of swab.

A small piece of absorbent material attached to the end of a stick or wire and used for cleansing a surface, applying medicine, or collecting a sample of a substance.

Dated form of swab

A sample collected with a swab.

Dated form of swab

A sponge or patch of absorbent material used to clean the bore of a firearm or cannon.

See Swab.

A mop used for cleaning floors or decks.

Cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors

(Slang) A sailor.

Wash with a swab or a mop;

(Slang) A lout.

Apply (usually a liquid) to a surface;

To use a swab on.

To clean with a swab.

To collect a sample from (a person, for example) using a swab.

(medicine) A small piece of soft, absorbent material, such as gauze, used to clean wounds, apply medicine, or take samples of body fluids. Often attached to a stick or wire to aid access.

A sample taken with a swab piece of absorbent material.

A piece of material used for cleaning or sampling other items like musical instruments or guns.

A mop, especially on a ship.

(slang) A sailor; a swabby.

(slang) A naval officer's epaulet.

(transitive) To use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.

To clean with a mop or swab; to wipe when very wet, as after washing; as, to swab the desk of a ship.

A kind of mop for cleaning floors, the desks of vessels, etc., esp. one made of rope-yarns or threads.

A bit of sponge, cloth, or the like, fastened to a handle, for cleansing the mouth of a sick person, applying medicaments to deep-seated parts, etc.

An epaulet.

A cod, or pod, as of beans or pease.

A sponge, or other suitable substance, attached to a long rod or handle, for cleaning the bore of a firearm.

Implement consisting of a small piece of cotton that is used to apply medication or cleanse a wound or obtain a specimen of a secretion

Cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors

Wash with a swab or a mop;

Apply (usually a liquid) to a surface;