safety match

American  

noun

1. a match designed to ignite only when rubbed on a specially prepared surface.

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safety match British  

noun

1. a match that will light only when struck against a specially prepared surface

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Etymology

Origin of safety match

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

safety match

She struck a safety match, and flames roared 20 feet into the air, until only her two out stretched hands were visible.

From Time Magazine Archive

The so-called safety match of the present time was invented in the year 1855.

From Artificial Light Its Influence upon Civilization by Matthew Luckiesh

For these reasons the introduction of the so-called safety match was an important event.

From General Science by Bertha M. Clark

He struck a safety match and held it to the leg of the table.

From Nonsense Novels by Stephen Leacock

To-day the safety match, certain and odorless, is sold at one-tenth of this price.

From Inventors by Philip Gengembre Hubert