swab

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
swab/swɒb/

▶noun

• 1 an absorbent pad used in surgery and medicine for cleaning wounds or applying medication.

  ■ a specimen of a secretion taken with a swab.

• 2 a mop or other absorbent device for cleaning or mopping up.

• 3 archaic a contemptible person.

  ■ US another term for swabbie.

▶verb (swabs, swabbing, swabbed) clean or absorb with a swab.

– origin C17: back-form. from swabber ‘sailor detailed to swab decks’, from early mod. Du. zwabber.