swab
noun
a large mop used on shipboard for cleaning decks, living quarters, etc.
had been swabbing
-
past perfect progressiveof swab.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He and Parks had been swabbing out the firing gun and putting the polished work of the cart apparatus in order.
From Tides of Barnegat by Francis Hopkinson Smith
