fusee

or fu·zee

[ fyoo-zee ]

/ fyuˈzi /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fusee ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a wooden friction match having a large head, formerly used when a larger than normal flame was needed.

a red flare light, used on a railroad as a warning signal to approaching trains.

Horology. a spirally grooved, conical pulley and chain arrangement for counteracting the diminishing power of the uncoiling mainspring.

fuse¹(def 1).

RELATED WORDS

Congreve, locofoco, Vesta, vesuvian

Nearby words

Origin of fusee

1580–90; < Middle French fusée spindleful, derivative of Old French fus spindle. See fuse¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fusee

That strikes a percussion cap, and ignites a fusee, and out flashes a red light.
Fighting the Sea|Edward A. Rand
He said nothing, but consulted his watch by the aid of a fusee.
The Matador of the Five Towns and Other Stories|Arnold Bennett
After being strangled at the bottom like the mouth of a phial, it is attached to the end of the fusee by means of twine and paste.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines|Andrew Ure
The Englishman gave him a fusee out of his cigar lights box, and kindled one himself simultaneously.
The Treasure of Pearls|Gustave Aimard

Before we lighted the fusee, I discovered a large copper cauldron which I thought I might save.
The Swiss Family Robinson|Johann David Wyss

British Dictionary definitions for fusee

fusee

fuzee

/ (fjuːˈziː) /

noun

(in early clocks and watches) a spirally grooved spindle, functioning as an equalizing force on the unwinding of the mainspring

a friction match with a large head, capable of remaining alight in a wind

an explosive fuse

Word Origin for fusee

C16: from French fusée spindleful of thread, from Old French fus spindle, from Latin fūsus

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

Word Origin and History for fusee

fusee

also fuzee, type of light musket, 1660s, from French fusil (see fusilier).