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percussion cap

noun
  1. a small metallic cap or cup containing fulminating powder, formerly exploded by percussion to fire the charge of small arms.
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Origin of percussion cap

First recorded in 1815–25
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for percussion cap

Historical Examples of percussion cap

  • It made about as much noise as a percussion-cap, and the wind was from Brigham toward us.

    Memoirs

    Charles Godfrey Leland

  • On so slight an incident—the defect of a percussion-cap—did the battle hinge.

    The Dixie Book of Days

    Matthew Page Andrews

  • He then looked to his percussion-cap, to make sure that all was right.

  • The revolver of the Civil War was, of course, a percussion-cap weapon.

    Rebel Raider

    H. Beam Piper

  • Then he had only to place a percussion-cap on the tube, and he was ready for business.

    Brave Tom

    Edward S. Ellis

British Dictionary definitions for percussion cap

percussion cap

noun
  1. a detonator consisting of a paper or thin metal cap containing material that explodes when struck and formerly used in certain firearms
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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