sparking plug

American  

noun

British.

1. spark plug.

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sparking plug British  

noun

1. Also called: spark plug.  a device screwed into the cylinder head of an internal-combustion engine to ignite the explosive mixture by means of an electric spark which jumps across a gap between a point earthed to the body of the plug and the tip of a central insulated rod

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Etymology

Origin of sparking plug

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

But to think of that chap, nearly thirteen thousand feet in the air, actually talking to us down on the earth while he was wrestling with a battery or sparking plug, or something!

From Aliens by McFee, William

The chauffeur will have to go on by diligence to-morrow to get a new sparking plug.

From The Broken Road by Mason, A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley)

Each author, without one exception to bring balm to my heart, wrote liltingly and sprightly a story of some particular make of motor-car that seemed to control the sparking plug of his genius.

From Roads of Destiny by Henry, O.

It is distinguishable, incidentally, by the passage formed through the center of each induction pipe for the sparking plug in the center cylinder of each block of three.

From Aviation Engines Design?Construction?Operation and Repair by Pag?, Victor Wilfred

There was a series of explosions as though the sparking plug of a motor-bicycle was playing tricks.

From Leaves from a Field Note-Book by Morgan, John Hartman