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Webster 1913 Edition

Verb.

To swab.

[R.]

Noun.

[D.

zwabber

; cf.D.

zwabberen

to swab, G.

schwabbern

, Dan.

svabre

, Sw.

svab

a swab,

svabla

to swab.]

One who swabs a floor or desk.

Shak.

(Naut.)

Formerly, an interior officer on board of British ships of war, whose business it was to see that the ship was kept clean.

Same as

, 2.

Noun.

One that uses a swab to clean a floor or deck; on board of ships of war, an inferior officer, whose business is to see that the ship is kept clean.