1. sailors or crew members responsible for cleaning the deck of a ship
Usage: nautical; informal
2. people who clean surfaces with a mop or cloth
Usage: informal

Examples

• The captain ordered the swabbers to clean the deck before the inspection.
• All hands on deck, including the swabbers, prepared for the storm.
• The swabbers worked tirelessly to keep the ship’s surfaces spotless.
• Hospital swabbers sanitized every surface in the operating room.
• The cleaning crew included several experienced swabbers.
• Young sailors often started as swabbers before advancing to other duties.