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touchwood

[ tuhch-wood ]
/ ˈtʌtʃˌwʊd /

noun

wood converted into an easily ignitible substance by the action of certain fungi, and used as tinder; punk.
Mycology. amadou.

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Origin of touchwood

First recorded in 1570–80; touch + wood1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for touchwood

touchwood
/ (ˈtʌtʃˌwʊd) /

noun

something, esp dry wood or fungus material such as amadou, used as tinder

Word Origin for touchwood

C16: touch (in the sense: to kindle) + wood 1
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