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Shab vs Swab - What's the difference?

shab | swab |

As nouns the difference between shab and swab

is that shab is (obsolete|uk|dialect) scabies while swab is (medicine) 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.

As verbs the difference between shab and swab

is that shab is (obsolete) to scratch; to rub or shab can be (obsolete|uk|dialect) to play mean tricks; to act shabbily while swab is to use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.

shab

English

Etymology 1

(etyl) shabbe. See scab.

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete, UK, dialect) scabies
  • (obsolete, UK, dialect) A scab.

    • Verb

    (shabb)
  • (obsolete) To scratch; to rub.
    • (Farquhar)

    Etymology 2

    See scab.

    Verb

    (shabb)
  • (obsolete, UK, dialect) To play mean tricks; to act shabbily.
    • (Webster 1913)

    swab

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (medicine) 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.
  • A sample taken with a swab (1).
  • A piece of material used for cleaning or sampling other items like musical instruments or guns.
  • A mop, especially on a ship.
  • (slang) A sailor; a swabby.

    • Synonyms

    * (sailor) swabby

    Verb

    (swabb)
  • To use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.
  • * , chapter=6
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=He had one hand on the bounce bottle—and he'd never let go of that since he got back to the table—but he had a handkerchief in the other and was swabbing his deadlights with it.}}