flareback

noun

plural -s

1

: a burst of flame back or out from a furnace or similar space in opposition to the normal direction of the draft

2

: an outburst (as of protest or angry rebuke) in response to a previous statement, criticism, or other cause

3

: a burst of flame from the breech of a heavy gun that sometimes occurs on the opening of the breech when the gun has been fired and is due to gases left in the gun which ignite on admission of the air if a spark is present

Word History

Etymology

flare entry 1 + back, adverb

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