Defn: 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.
BOLT
Bolt, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a bolt; suddenly; straight; unbendingly.
[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.
BOLT
Bolt, n. Etym: [From Bolt, v. i.]
1. A sudden spring or start; a sudden spring aside; as, the horse made a bolt.
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)
Defn: A refusal to support a nomination made by the party with which one has been connected; a breaking away from one's party.
BOLT
Bolt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bolted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bolting.] Etym:
[OE. bolten, boulten, OF. buleter, F. bluter, fr. Ll. buletare,
buratare, cf. F. bure coarse woolen stuff; fr. L. burrus red. See
Borrel, and cf. Bultel.]
1. To sift or separate the coarser from the finer particles of, as bran from flour, by means of a bolter; to separate, assort, refine, or purify by other means. He now had bolted all the flour. Spenser. Ill schooled in bolted language. Shak.