powder monkey

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noun

(formerly) a boy employed on warships to carry gunpowder from the magazine to the guns.

powderman (def. 1).

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Origin of powder monkey

First recorded in 1675–85

Words nearby powder monkey

powder magazine, powderman, powder metallurgy, powder method, powder mill, powder monkey, powder paper, powder puff, Powder River, powder room, powder snow

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use powder monkey in a sentence

Place the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt on parchment or wax paper.
Make ‘The Chew’s’ Carla Hall’s Sticky Toffee Pudding|Carla Hall|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Other versions are coated in marzipan, or dusted in powder sugar.
One Cake to Rule Them All: How Stollen Stole Our Hearts|Molly Hannon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This powder can be shipped anywhere and then reconstituted—just add water, as if it were instant coffee.
Powdered Measles Vaccine Could Be Huge for Developing World|Kent Sepkowitz|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So the new inhaled powder measles vaccine may in a few years turn out to be an easier way to protect kids from measles.
Powdered Measles Vaccine Could Be Huge for Developing World|Kent Sepkowitz|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They say that the Israelis framed him in order to light the powder keg of religious war over the al-Aqsa compound.
In Jerusalem Home Demolitions, the Biblical Justice of Revenge|Creede Newton|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the greatest danger I ever underwent in that kingdom was from a monkey, who belonged to one of the clerks of the kitchen.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
So when Yung Pak's father made him a present of a monkey—a real monkey—alive—he just danced with glee.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
The law went into operation in England imposing a tax on wearing hair powder.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
The girl began to hum, as she powdered her nose with a white glove, lying in a powder box.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
After a little while Yung Pak got used to these "monkey shines," and he knew that his pet would not stay away long after mealtime.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike

British Dictionary definitions for powder monkey

powder monkey

noun

(formerly) a boy who carried powder from the magazine to the guns on warships

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