Advertisement

Advertisement

guncotton

[ guhn-kot-n ]

noun

  1. a highly explosive nitrocellulose, made by breaking down clean cotton in a mixture of one part nitric acid and three parts sulfuric acid: used in making smokeless powder.


guncotton

/ ˈɡʌnˌkɒtən /

noun

  1. cellulose nitrate containing a relatively large amount of nitrogen: used as an explosive
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of guncotton1

First recorded in 1840–50; gun 1 + cotton
Discover More

Example Sentences

And suddenly Guncotton produced his will-o-the-wisp trick, which completed the illusion.

These are crumbling in places, and the Pioneers might destroy the bastion and breach the wall with a bag or two of guncotton.

The soldiers formed a square round the gun, charged it with guncotton, shouted 'Stand back!'

For this purpose electric fuzes (for powder) or electric detonators (for guncotton or other high explosive) are employed.

Some very good bombs were made from jam-tins with a wad of guncotton, and filled up with all manner of missiles.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


gun controlgun crew