fusee

American  

[fyoo-zee] / fyuˈzi /

Or fuzee

noun

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

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

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

4. fuse.

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fusee British  

/ fjuːˈziː /

noun

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

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

3. an explosive fuse

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Etymology

Origin of fusee

1580–90; < Middle French fusée spindleful, derivative of Old French fus spindle. See fuse ¹

Example Sentences

Thus, the fusee equalized the force of the spring on the wheels of the timekeeper.

From Scientific American • Dec. 31, 2011

The importance of the fusee should not be underestimated: it made possible the development of the portable clock as well as the subsequent evolution of the pocket watch.

From Scientific American • Dec. 31, 2011

The railroad explained that the West Coast Champion's fireman had gone down the track to set a fusee, had stumbled and destroyed his only one.

From Time Magazine Archive

On the floor of the dark closet where all the electric gear of the house terminated, the bandit laid a sort of oblong fusee that he drew from his capacious cloak.

From The Exploits of Juve Being the Second of the Series of the "Fantômas" Detective Tales by Souvestre, Émile

This dilemma was overcome by Vaughan offering a fusee.

From A Girl's Ride in Iceland by Alec-Tweedie, Mrs. (Ethel)