melinite

[mel-uh-nahyt]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a high explosive containing picric acid.

melinite

/ ˈmɛlɪˌnaɪt /

noun

1. a high explosive made from picric acid

Word History and Origins

Origin of melinite¹

1885–90; < French mélinite < Greek mḗlin ( os ) made of apples (derivative of mêlon apple) + French -ite -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of melinite¹

C19: via French from Greek mēlinos (colour) of a quince, from mēlon fruit, quince

Example Sentences

Melinite, mā′lin-īt, n. an explosive of great force obtained from picric acid.

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You see, we have six ships here in line abreast, and twelve guns, each throwing a melinite shell of not less than a hundred pounds, are trained on the face of the building.

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They’d have to invent a rocket apparatus for shying melinite shells aloft.”

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The fort was used as a target for 8-in. shell of five calibres length containing large charges of melinite.

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The vibration will cause any unstable substance such as melinite to explode.”

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