matchwood

[ mach-wood ]

noun

1. wood suitable for match.
2. splinters ( def 1 ).

matchwood

/ ˈmætʃˌwʊd /

noun

1. wood suitable for making matches
2. splinters or fragments

   the bomb blew the house to matchwood

Word History and Origins

Origin of matchwood¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; match ¹ + wood ¹

Example Sentences

Another time-consuming process was cleaning the match heads, but Senchukov’s art and efforts did not go unnoticed, and one Ukrainian factory now provides him with matchwood.

From Reuters

Television pictures showed buildings under water in Mexico Beach, and several properties reduced to matchwood in Panama City Beach.

From The Guardian

According to contemporary reports, 80 police officers were called to quell the ensuing melee, which involved both “much of the nightclub furniture being reduced to matchwood” and Liam Gallagher’s front teeth being knocked out.

From The Guardian

“The actual mailbox itself wasn’t damaged, but they reduced the post to matchwood.”

From Washington Post

Many a building was blown to matchwood because of leaking gas.

From New York Times