fusee

American  

[fyoo-zee] / fyuˈzi /

Or fuzee

noun

1. a wooden friction match having a large head, formerly used when a larger than normal flame was needed.

2. a red flare light, used on a railroad as a warning signal to approaching trains.

3. Horology. a spirally grooved, conical pulley and chain arrangement for counteracting the diminishing power of the uncoiling mainspring.

4. fuse.

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fusee British  

/ fjuːˈziː /

noun

1. (in early clocks and watches) a spirally grooved spindle, functioning as an equalizing force on the unwinding of the mainspring

2. a friction match with a large head, capable of remaining alight in a wind

3. an explosive fuse

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Etymology

Origin of fusee

1580–90; < Middle French fusée spindleful, derivative of Old French fus spindle. See fuse ¹

Example Sentences

Thus, the fusee equalized the force of the spring on the wheels of the timekeeper.

From Scientific American • Dec. 31, 2011

The importance of the fusee should not be underestimated: it made possible the development of the portable clock as well as the subsequent evolution of the pocket watch.

From Scientific American • Dec. 31, 2011

The railroad explained that the West Coast Champion's fireman had gone down the track to set a fusee, had stumbled and destroyed his only one.

From Time Magazine Archive

But while the mainspring, when fully wound, turns the fusee by uncoiling the string from the smallest part of the fusee, it gets the advantage of the larger radius as its energy becomes lessened.

From How it Works Dealing in simple language with steam, electricity, light, heat, sound, hydraulics, optics, etc., and with their applications to apparatus in common use by Williams, Archibald

The fusee is still used for marine chronometers, for some clocks that have a mainspring and pendulum, and occasionally for watches.

From How it Works Dealing in simple language with steam, electricity, light, heat, sound, hydraulics, optics, etc., and with their applications to apparatus in common use by Williams, Archibald