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Synonyms

friction match

American  

noun

  1. a kind of match tipped with a compound that ignites by friction.


friction match British  

noun

  1. a match that ignites as a result of the heat produced by friction when it is struck on a rough surface See also safety match

"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 friction match

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

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.

And who really invented those later marvels, the friction match, the barometer, the airplane, the steamboat?

From Time Magazine Archive

But the first really practical friction match was made in the United States in 1836 by L.C.

From The Scrap Book, Volume 1, No. 6 August 1906 by Various

The numbers of these available were small but other types were more plentiful and included the jam tin, cricket ball, time and friction, match head, and hair brush.

From The 28th: A Record of War Service in the Australian Imperial Force, 1915-19, Vol. I Egypt, Gallipoli, Lemnos Island, Sinai Peninsula by Collett, Herbert Brayley

The modern phosphorus friction match came into use about 1833.

From Great Inventions and Discoveries by Piercy, Willis Duff

No wort der Breitmann ootered, He only make a sgratch, Calm and silend on de daple, Mit a liddle friction match.

From The Breitmann Ballads by Leland, Charles Godfrey

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