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touchwood

[ tuhch-wood ]

noun

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


touchwood

/ ˈtʌtʃˌwʊd /

noun

  1. something, esp dry wood or fungus material such as amadou, used as tinder
“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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of touchwood1

First recorded in 1570–80; touch + wood 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of touchwood1

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

As he lifted his smouldering stick of touchwood and blew on it, he caught sight of me for the first time.

For an hour I laboured in the making of a torch, which I constructed of touchwood bound about by reeds.

I will tell you," replied the gipsy, striking a light with a flint and touchwood that he carried; "I will tell you; though you shall soon be able to satisfy yourself.

Its wooden tenements had caught, and blazed like touchwood.

Besides the two sorts of touchwood already mentioned, there is another kind of it in those parts, that I think is infinitely preferable to either.

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