lyddite

[ lid-ahyt ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a high explosive consisting chiefly of picric acid.

lyddite

/ ˈlɪdaɪt /

noun

1. an explosive consisting chiefly of fused picric acid
2. a dense black variety of chert, formerly used as a touchstone

Word History and Origins

Origin of lyddite¹

1885–90; named after Lydd, borough in SE England near the site where it was first tested; -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lyddite¹

C19: (sense 1) named after Lydd, a town in Kent near which the first tests were made

Example Sentences

We have also a five-inch lyddite gun (Clements brought it), which sent up huge clouds of brown dust where the shell struck.

From Project Gutenberg

They made very light of lyddite, and laughed at the legend that the fumes are dangerous.

From Project Gutenberg

Here a corner of one of the massive entrance pillars had been sharply severed off by a British lyddite shell.

From Project Gutenberg

A lyddite missile had done the deed; no "common" shell, we argued, could have created such a noise.

From Project Gutenberg

Such faces I did not think could be worn by human beings; they were orange with lyddite smoke.

From Project Gutenberg