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touchwood

American

[tuhch-wood] / ˈtʌtʃˌwʊd /

noun

wood converted into an easily ignitible substance by the action of certain fungi, and used as tinder; punk.
Mycology. amadou.

touchwood British

/ ˈtʌtʃˌwʊd /

noun

something, esp dry wood or fungus material such as amadou, used as tinder

"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

Etymology

Origin of touchwood

First recorded in 1570–80; touch + wood ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Glaring at me, he rushed to the cannon, knocking it askew in his haste, and thrust the touchwood against the fuse.

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood

As he lifted his smouldering stick of touchwood and blew on it, he caught sight of me for the first time.

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood

Within the House his captors searched him, coming upon the tinder box, touchwood, and Winter's watch—things which were to bear heavy evidence against the prisoner.

From The Fifth of November A Romance of the Stuarts by Bentley, Charles S.

Searching in his doublet he drew forth a tinder box and touchwood.

From The Fifth of November A Romance of the Stuarts by Bentley, Charles S.

These, communicated to touchwood, were soon formed into a blaze.

From Sketches of Aboriginal Life American Tableaux, No. 1 by Vide, V. V.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023