| 释义 |
ˈsmoke-ball
[smoke n. 1.]
1. Mil. A paper shell filled with a preparation which, when ignited, sends out clouds of smoke.
The ball is fired from a mortar, and the smoke serves to drive men out of mines, conceal manœuvres, etc.
1753Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v. Ball, Smoak..Balls, those which..darken a place, to prevent discoveries. 1760Ann. Reg., Chron. 146/1 A smoke-ball burst in General Desagulier's hand, and shattered his arm. 1802James Milit. Dict. s.v. Ball, Smoke-balls..continue to smoke from 25 to 30 minutes. 1828Spearman Brit. Gunner (ed. 2) 52 Balls..are of three descriptions, viz.—lead, light, and smoke-balls. 1859F. A. Griffiths Artill. Man. (1862) 86 The 8 in. Smoke ball burns about 4 minutes.
fig.1796Gentl. Mag. LXVI. ii. 1011 When Christianity is assaulted..by the smoke-balls and stink-pots of English vagabonds.
attrib.1809Naval Chron. XXII. 286 Every rocket contains smoak-ball composition.
2. A ball used in trap-shooting, which, when struck by a shot, emits a puff of smoke.
1881Greener Gun 504 The latest improvement is the American smoke-ball, consisting of two hemispheres of paper placed upon a wooden ball.
3. A ball emitting smoke when ignited, used by thieves.
1899Daily News 21 Mar. 7/2 Raising an alarm of fire by means of smoke balls ignited on the various floors. The smoke balls went beyond their commission and kindled a flame. |