touchwood

American  

[tuhch-wood] / ˈtʌtʃˌwʊd /

noun

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

2. Mycology. amadou.

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touchwood British  

/ ˈtʌtʃˌwʊd /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of touchwood

First recorded in 1570–80; touch + wood ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

touchwood

Glaring at me, he rushed to the cannon, knocking it askew in his haste, and thrust the touchwood against the fuse.

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood

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

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood

Nod, too, lay down, ruffled with fire, burning like touchwood, amid the enchanted flowers.

From The Three Mulla-mulgars by De la Mare, Walter

He carried in one hand a dark lantern, lighted, and in the other a piece of touchwood, and a match eight or nine inches in length.

From It Might Have Been The Story of the Gunpowder Plot by Irwin, M. (Madelaine)

At intervals came the indistinct murmur of voices, the flash of hurried sparks dropped upon touchwood, the rattle of cannon balls, the ramming home of charges down slim-waisted guns.

From The Plowshare and the Sword A Tale of Old Quebec by Trevena, John