[He] came bolt up against the heavy dragoon.
--Thackeray.
{Bolt upright}.
(a) Perfectly upright; perpendicular; straight up;
unbendingly erect. --Addison.
(b) On the back at full length. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
2. A sudden flight, as to escape creditors.
This gentleman was so hopelessly involved that he
contemplated a bolt to America -- or anywhere.
--Compton
Reade.
3. (U. S. Politics) A refusal to support a nomination made by
the party with which one has been connected; a breaking
away from one's party.
Look that the crossbowmen lack not bolts. --Sir W.
Scott.
A fool's bolt is soon shot. --Shak.
2. Lightning; a thunderbolt.
3. A strong pin, of iron or other material, used to fasten or
hold something in place, often having a head at one end
and screw thread cut upon the other end.
4. A sliding catch, or fastening, as for a door or gate; the
portion of a lock which is shot or withdrawn by the action
of the key.
5. An iron to fasten the legs of a prisoner; a shackle; a
fetter. [Obs.]
Away with him to prison! lay bolts enough upon him.
--Shak.
6. A compact package or roll of cloth, as of canvas or silk,
often containing about forty yards.
{Bolt auger}, an auger of large size; an auger to make holes
for the bolts used by shipwrights.
{Bolt and nut}, a metallic pin with a head formed upon one
end, and a movable piece (the nut) screwed upon a thread
cut upon the other end. See B, C, and D, in illust. above.
Note: See {Tap bolt}, {Screw bolt}, and {Stud bolt}.
This Puck seems but a dreaming dolt, . . . And oft
out of a bush doth bolt. --Drayton.
2. To strike or fall suddenly like a bolt.
His cloudless thunder bolted on their heads.
--Milton.
3. To spring suddenly aside, or out of the regular path; as,
the horse bolted.
4. (U.S. Politics) To refuse to support a nomination made by
a party or a caucus with which one has been connected; to
break away from a party.
He now had bolted all the flour. --Spenser.
Ill schooled in bolted language. --Shak.
2. To separate, as if by sifting or bolting; -- with out.
Time and nature will bolt out the truth of things.
--L'Estrange.
3. (Law) To discuss or argue privately, and for practice, as
cases at law. --Jacob.
{To bolt to the bran}, to examine thoroughly, so as to
separate or discover everything important. --Chaucer.
This bolts the matter fairly to the bran. --Harte.
The report of the committee was examined and sifted
and bolted to the bran. --Burke.