portfire

noun

: a fuze or match for firing guns or fireworks: such as

a

: a paper case filled with a composition of niter, sulfur, and mealed powder

b

: a slow-burning fuze (as a billet of wood impregnated with potassium nitrate) or an incendiary cord or tube for igniting fuzes of blasting charges

Word History

Etymology

partial translation of French porte-feu from porter to carry + feu fire

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!