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
To swab is to use a small piece of absorbent material on the end of a stick or wire to obtain mucus or other specimen, cleanse and area, or apply medicine
To clean with a mop or swab; to wipe when very wet, as after washing; as, to swab the desk of a ship
{i} large mop; (Medicine) small piece of absorbent material attached to a stick (used to administer medication, take cultures for microscopic examination, etc.)
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