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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

touchwood

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

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

To-day I sat down on a tree-stump at the skirt of a little strip of planting, and thoughtlessly began to dig out the touchwood with an end of twig.

From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 23 (of 25) by Robert Louis Stevenson

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.

From A Journey from Prince of Wales's Fort in Hudson's Bay to the Northern Ocean in the Years 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 New Edition with Introduction, Notes, and Illustrations by J. B. Tyrrell

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

From The Three Mulla-mulgars by Walter De la Mare

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