Holmes light
noun
a canister, attached to a life buoy or float, containing calcium carbonate and calcium phosphide, which ignite spontaneously on contact with the water, emitting conspicuous fire and smoke.
Origin of Holmes light
1Probably from the surname Holmes
Words Nearby Holmes light
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use Holmes light in a sentence
During practice with “blank” torpedoes a “Holmes light” is attached.
The Romance of Modern Invention | Archibald Williams
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