a large mop used on shipboard for cleaning decks, living quarters, etc.
2.
a bit of sponge, cloth, cotton, or the like, sometimes fixed to a stick, for cleansing the mouth of a sick person or for applying medicaments, drying areas, etc.
3.
the material collected with a swab as a specimen for microscopic study.
4.
a brush or wad of absorbent material for cleaning the bore of a firearm.
5.
Slang. a sailor; swabby.
6.
Slang. a clumsy fellow.
–verb (used with object)
7.
to clean with or as if with a swab: to swab the decks.
8.
to take up or apply, as moisture, with or as if with a swab: to swab soapy water from the decks.
9.
to pass over a surface: to swab a mop over the decks.
A small piece of absorbent material attached to the end of a stick or wire and used for cleansing or applying medicine.
A specimen of mucus or other material removed with a swab.
A sponge or patch of absorbent material used to clean the bore of a firearm or cannon.
A mop used for cleaning floors or decks.
Slang A sailor.
Slang A lout.
tr.v.
swabbed also swobbed, swab·bing also swob·bing, swabs also swobs
To use a swab on.
To clean with a swab.
To take a specimen from (a person) using a swab.
[Back-formation from swabber, mop for a ship's deck (from obsolete Dutch *zwabber, from zwabben, to mop) or from obsolete Dutch swabbe, mop (from Middle Dutch).]
[swob] 
noun, verb, swabbed, swab⋅bing.
