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touch paper

noun

  1. paper saturated with potassium nitrate to make it burn slowly, used for igniting explosives and fireworks.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of touch paper1

First recorded in 1740–50
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Example Sentences

It is not necessary,” Hawking and Mlodinow write, “to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going.

William made some touch-paper, which he lighted with one of the glasses from the telescope, and they soon had a good fire.

Thus, if the ashes of a cigar be well rubbed into a bit of paper, they convert it into touch-paper.

So will gunpowder, for out of four parts of it, three are saltpetre; damaged gunpowder may be used for making touch-paper.

It was held there, for a minute, while the mate struck a light and applied it to the touch paper.

I don't know as a regular fuse would do, as it might go out for want of air; but there would be plenty to keep touch paper alight.

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