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thunderbolt

noun
/ˈθʌndə(ɹ)ˌboʊlt/

Etymology

By analogy with the speed and power of a thunderbolt.

  1. derived from *bʰūs-✻
  2. derived from *buzdô✻
  3. derived from bulter
  4. derived from bulten
  5. compounded as thunderbolt — “thunder + bolt”

Definitions

  1. A flash of lightning accompanied by a crash of thunder.

    • Our quiuering Lances ſhaking in the aire, / And bullets like Ioues dreadfull Thunderbolts, / Enrolde in flames and fiery ſmoldering miſtes, / Shall threat the Gods more than Cyclopian warres, […]

  2. An event that is terrible, horrific or unexpected.

    • News of the actress’s death came as a thunderbolt to her fans.
    • the Scipios' worth, those thunderbolts of war
    • A greater wreck, a deeper fall, / A shock to one—a thunderbolt to all.

  3. Vehement threatening or censure

    Vehement threatening or censure; especially, ecclesiastical denunciation; fulmination.

    • a thunder-bolt of warre Striking all Nations
  4. ›+ 7 more definitions

    1. A very powerful shot.

      • Substitute Niko Kranjcar's injury-time thunderbolt gave Tottenham a dramatic win over Bolton.

    2. A belemnite, or thunderstone.

    3. A charge in the form of two joined bundles with four rays of lightning emerging from…

      A charge in the form of two joined bundles with four rays of lightning emerging from them, resembling the thunderbolt of Jupiter.

    4. A daring or irresistible hero.

    5. To strike with a thunderbolt.

    6. To move swiftly and violently.

    7. A computer interface standard for connecting devices, combining PCI Express, DisplayPort…

      A computer interface standard for connecting devices, combining PCI Express, DisplayPort and DC power in one connector.

The neighborhood

Derived

thunderbolt beetle

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for thunderbolt. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA