gunpowdern.
/ˈɡʌnpaʊdə/ 1.
a. An explosive mixture of saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal, chiefly used in discharging projectiles from guns and for blasting.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > explosive material > [noun] > other specific explosives
powdera1393
gunpowder1411
saltpetre1501
petre1586
halinitre1608
sal-prunella1664
petre-salt1708
xyloidin1838
gun-cotton1846
pyroxyle1847
pyroxylin1847
pyroglycerin1850
xylidine1850
nitroglycerine1852
gun-sawdust1853
picrate1854
trinitroglycerin1864
nitroleum1866
trinitrin1866
dynamite1867
giant-powder1872
dualin1874
fulgurite1874
rendrock1874
glyoxilin1875
lithofracteur1875
trinitro-cellulose1875
white gunpowder1875
gelatin1878
cotton-powder1879
vigorite1879
blasting gelatine1881
Hercules powder1881
saxifragine1881
tonite1881
dynamogen1882
forcite1883
haloxylin1883
jelly powdera1884
nitro-gelatinea1884
panclastite1883
potentite1883
sebastinea1884
kolloxylin1884
hellhoffite1885
rackarock1885
securite1886
kinetite1887
roburite1887
carbo-dynamite1888
fortis1889
gelatine dynamite1889
gelignite1889
seranine1889
straw-dynamite1889
carbonite1890
amberite1891
nitro powder1892
Schnebelite1893
westfalite1894
thorite1899
soup1902
ammonal1903
cheddite1908
trinitrotoluene1908
Samsonite1909
tolite1909
trinitrotoluol1910
trotyl1910
glyceryl trinitrate1912
T.N.T.1915
nitro1916
amatol1918
cyclonite1923
hexogen1923
lox1923
pentaerythritol tetranitrate1923
hexite1931
aurantia1940
jelly1941
RDX1941
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > ammunition for firearms > [noun] > explosive for use with firearms
gunpowder1411
service charge1776
propellant1881
a1387 Brev. Bartholomæi (Anecd. Oxon., Mediæval, I. i. 3) Pulvis pro instrumento illo bellico sive diabolico quod vulgaliter dicitur gunne.]
1411 Indenture in Accts. Exchequer King's Remembrancer (P.R.O.: E101/44/17) Une petit barell' de gonpouder. [Misdated 1338 by Nicolas Royal Navy II. 476 App.]
1414 in T. Rymer Fœdera (1709) IX. 160 Aliquod Gunpoudre versus Partes exteras, in Portu prædicto.
1446 in Archaeologia (1829) 22 63 Bought ij hand~gunnes de ere iiijs. Item, gonepowder iiijs.
1464 in Manners & Househ. Expenses Eng. (1841) 160 Item, payd ffor xij. li. gonnepowdyr..xij.s.
1485 in M. Oppenheim Naval Accts. & Inventories Henry VII (1896) 13 For ij barrelles Gonnepowdre.
1533 T. More Apol. xxxiv, in Wks. 898/1 If he founde a corner of his neighbours house burning, he wold of greate loue and polycye lay on fagottes and gun~powder to put out the fyre.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 33 The reik smeuk and the stink of the gun puldir.
1555 Acc. in T. Sharp Cov. Myst. (1825) 193 Payd for xij li of gonepother xijs. vjd.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V iv. vii. 175 I do know Flewellen valiant, And being toucht, as hot as gunpowder.
1692 Smith's Sea-mans Gram. (new ed.) ii. v. 93 Gunpowder, as it is made in this Age, is compounded of Saltpetre six parts, and of Brimstone and Charcoal of each one part.
1797 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 87 290 The best gunpowder..is composed of 70 parts (in weight) of nitre, 18 parts of sulphur, and 16 parts of charcoal.
1827 T. Carlyle State Germ. Lit. in Edinb. Rev. Oct. 306 The three great elements of modern civilization, Gunpowder, Printing, and the Protestant Religion.
1846 W. Greener Sci. Gunnery (new ed.) 69 Gunpowder is a lever if exploded on a solid base, if not, its effects become limited in proportion.
b. white gunpowder n. a name given to various explosives of recent invention; (a) (see quot. 1875); (b) a blasting mixture made of chlorate of potash, potassium ferrocyanide, and sugar.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > explosive material > [noun] > other specific explosives
powdera1393
gunpowder1411
saltpetre1501
petre1586
halinitre1608
sal-prunella1664
petre-salt1708
xyloidin1838
gun-cotton1846
pyroxyle1847
pyroxylin1847
pyroglycerin1850
xylidine1850
nitroglycerine1852
gun-sawdust1853
picrate1854
trinitroglycerin1864
nitroleum1866
trinitrin1866
dynamite1867
giant-powder1872
dualin1874
fulgurite1874
rendrock1874
glyoxilin1875
lithofracteur1875
trinitro-cellulose1875
white gunpowder1875
gelatin1878
cotton-powder1879
vigorite1879
blasting gelatine1881
Hercules powder1881
saxifragine1881
tonite1881
dynamogen1882
forcite1883
haloxylin1883
jelly powdera1884
nitro-gelatinea1884
panclastite1883
potentite1883
sebastinea1884
kolloxylin1884
hellhoffite1885
rackarock1885
securite1886
kinetite1887
roburite1887
carbo-dynamite1888
fortis1889
gelatine dynamite1889
gelignite1889
seranine1889
straw-dynamite1889
carbonite1890
amberite1891
nitro powder1892
Schnebelite1893
westfalite1894
thorite1899
soup1902
ammonal1903
cheddite1908
trinitrotoluene1908
Samsonite1909
tolite1909
trinitrotoluol1910
trotyl1910
glyceryl trinitrate1912
T.N.T.1915
nitro1916
amatol1918
cyclonite1923
hexogen1923
lox1923
pentaerythritol tetranitrate1923
hexite1931
aurantia1940
jelly1941
RDX1941
1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) II. 767 Schultze's White Gunpowder is a tri-nitro-cellulose, prepared from sawdust.
c. with reference to tattooing.
ΚΠ
1715 London Gaz. No. 5363/4 His Name on his right Hand in Gunpowder D. W.
1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 31 July (1965) I. 425 The women have their Arms..and their Necks and faces adorn'd with..various sorts of figures impress'd by Gunpowder.
1791 J. Ireland Hogarth Illustr. I. 226 I think it is probable that these gunpowder initials are merely the marks of a woman of the lowest rank, and most infamous description.
d. figurative.
ΚΠ
1681 J. Flavell Method of Grace xxviii. 474 Christian, thou knowest thou carriest Gunpowder about thee, desire those that carry fire to keep at a distance from thee.
1900 Speaker 24 Mar. 674/1 Such mischievous words are just the sort of match to kindle the gunpowder of mob violence.
2. (In full, gunpowder tea.) A fine kind of green tea, each leaf of which is rolled up, so that it has a granular appearance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > tea manufacture > [noun] > types of dry tea > green tea
imperial tea1699
imperial1713
green1728
gunpowder1771
cow-slip tea1796
Twankay1840
Jack the Painter1848
1771 J. R. Forster tr. P. Osbeck Voy. China I. 250 Tio-te is rolled up like pease... A smaller kind is called Gunpowder tea.
1795 A. Anderson Narr. Brit. Embassy China 186 The shrub which bears what is called the Imperial and gunpowder teas.
1832 E. Lankester Veg. Substances Food 379 Gunpowder tea is made of tender green leaves.
1839 W. M. Thackeray Major Gahagan vi ‘Is it bohay tay or souchong tay that you'd like?’..‘Any tea you like’... ‘What do you say, then, to some prime gunpowder?’
1886 Daily News 24 Dec. 2/6 Tea.—Ping Suey gunpowder.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > other alcoholic drinks > [noun] > others
stitch-broth1635
Cherellya1640
rug1653
steel-nose1654
pope's-milka1661
Northdown1670
purl royal1675
sweetsa1679
forty-ninea1713
huggle-my-buff1756
slug1756
gunpowder1765
guarapo1772
peachy1781
all nations1785
anti-fogmatic1789
soma1827
ava1831
native1832
tap1832
stone fence1844
slap-bang1845
Angostura1856
jake1910
tepache1926
pruno1936
muratina1968
makkoli1970
alcopop1996
1765 W. Toldervy Hist. Two Orphans II. 112 Tape, glim, rushlight, white port, rasher of bacon, gunpowder, slug, wild-fire, knock-me-down, and strip-me naked.
1765 W. Toldervy Hist. Two Orphans II. 118 Come, here's t'ye, in a glass of gunpowder.
4.
a. figurative. Explosive as gunpowder; easily fired or inflamed.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > excitability of temperament > [adjective]
tickle1534
gunpowder1598
agitable1603
activable1606
thatched1606
excitable1609
powdery1611
incensible1614
hot-bloodeda1616
warm-headed1690
combustible1698
fermentable1731
intoxicablea1734
tindery1753
inflammable1800
pattypan1858
gunpowdery1868
gunpowderous1870
erethic1888
arousable1890
hyper1942
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. iv. 120 I am afraid of this gunpowder Percy, though he be dead. View more context for this quotation
1604 T. Middleton Blacke Bk. D 4 Such Gunne-powder Oathes they were, that I wonder how the Seeling held together.
1625 R. Montagu Appello Cæsarem ii. i. 112 Men of moving violent, Quicksilver, Gunpowder spirits.
1829 W. Scott Waverley (new ed.) II. xxiii. 219 Would you have him peace-maker general between all the gunpowder Highlanders in the army?
b. Of a bluish colour like gunpowder.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > blue or blueness > [adjective] > greyish blue
perse-blue1414
plunket1415
persec1425
grey-blue1741
iron blue?1758
smoke-blue1807
gunpowder1817
slaty-blue1854
Silurian1892
powder-blue-grey1952
1817 S. T. Coleridge Biographia Literaria I. 169 The lank, black, twine-like hair,..cut in a straight line along the black stubble of his thin gunpowder eye brows.
Compounds
C1.
a. General attributive.
(a)
gunpowder-blue n.
ΚΠ
1890 Daily News 21 Oct. 2/1 Gunpowder-blue velvet.
gunpowder flash n.
gunpowder grinder n.
ΚΠ
1707 in H. Playford Wit & Mirth (new ed.) II. 205 The next that came by, was a Gun-powder grinder.
gunpowder-law n.
ΚΠ
1614 T. Adams Diuells Banket i. 2 Lawes..enacted in the vault of darkenesse; like those vnder the Parliament-house; Gunpowder-lawes, fit for the Iustices of Hell.
gunpowder-maker n.
ΚΠ
1550 in Acts Privy Council (1891) III. 50 xxli to Charles Wolman, gonne powther maker.
gunpowder match n.
ΚΠ
1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. xii. 57 Giue fire by a Gunpowder match, to preuent traines to the powder chest.
gunpowder mill n.
ΚΠ
1642 A. Wood Life & Times (1891) I. 74 The gunpowder myll was at Osney where the fulling myll stood.
gunpowder-pocket n.
ΚΠ
1777 T. Twining to Burney 16 June in Louisa Twining Country Clergym. 18th Cent. (1882) 51 With gunpowder pockets under his armpits ready for the partridges in September.
gunpowder-smoke n.
ΚΠ
1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist II. xxix. 175 A couple of men catch one moment's glimpse of a boy in the midst of gunpowder-smoke.
gunpowder-squib n.
ΚΠ
1660 S. Fisher Rusticus ad Academicos i. 26 [They] threw Stones and Gunpowder squibs that fired among us.
gunpowder train n.
ΚΠ
1611 B. Rich Honestie of Age (1844) 45 These diuelish practises, of poysons, of pistoles, of stabbing kniues, and of gunnepouder traynes.
gunpowder works n.
ΚΠ
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 621 The Royal Gunpowder Works at Waltham Abbey.
(b)
gunpowder-blackened adj.
ΚΠ
1894 Westm. Gaz. 25 June 2/2 Lefebvre wishes to wash his gunpowder-blackened hands.
b. † gunpowder spot n. Obsolete a ‘beauty spot’ produced by means of gunpowder (see quot. 1718 at sense 1c).
gunpowder cake n. gunpowder in a cake or mass, i.e. before it is corned.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > ammunition for firearms > [noun] > explosive for use with firearms > in specific form or state
corn-powder1562
train1587
meal-powder1782
green charge1825
gunpowder cake1839
mill-cake1839
presscake1839
pellet powder1868
prismatic powder1869
pebble powder1870
pebble1872
prismatic1894
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 630 The mill for grinding gunpowder cake.
Categories »
gunpowder-engine n. a gas-engine in which the movement of the piston is produced by the evolution of gas resulting from the combustion of gunpowder (E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. 1875).
gunpowder-hammer n. a pile-driving machine worked by the explosion of gunpowder ( Pract. Dict. Mech.).
gunpowder-paper n. paper spread with an explosive compound and rolled up into the form of a cartridge ( Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 1884).
gunpowder-press n. a press for compacting mill-cake into hard cake preparatory to granulation (Knight, 1875).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the face > [noun] > adorning with patches > ornamental patches or spots
spot1578
patch1592
beauty spot1647
fly1658
mouche1676
gunpowder spot1681
powder-spot1683
beauty patch1691
mouchet1699
coquette patch1705
1681 T. Otway Souldiers Fortune iv. i. 42 Gunpowder Spots and Moles.
1708 J. Wilson et al. tr. Petronius Satyrical Wks. 207 Fine Gentlemen in the Boxes, with their Patches, Gunpowder-spots, and Tooth-pickers.
gunpowder tea n. (see 2).
gunpowder weed n. South African a name for Silene gallica, a plant having small black seeds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Caryophyllaceae (chickweeds and allies) > [noun] > campion and ragged robin
cow-rattle14..
campion1576
behen1578
crowsoap1578
white campion1578
catchfly1597
feather-top wild campion1597
frothy poppy1597
lime-wort1597
nonsuch1597
sea campion1597
spattling poppy (also campion)1597
Greek rose1601
lychnis1601
knap-bottle1640
moss pink1641
Lobel's catchfly1664
red robin1678
moss campion1690
red campion1728
round robin1741
Silene1751
Nottingham catchfly1762
silenal1836
Robin Hood1844
thunder-flower1853
gunpowder weed1860
sea-catchfly1864
robin redbreast1880
poppy1886
thunderbolt1886
rattleweed1893
cancer1896
bladder-campion-
1860 W. H. Harvey & O. W. Sonder Flora Capensis I. 127 Silene gallica... This is the ‘Gunpowder-weed’ of the colonists; its black seeds resembling powder.
1897 H. Edmonds & R. Marloth Elem. Bot. S. Afr. xvii. 139 Silene... Several species of Campion, also the so-called ‘Gunpowder Weed’ (S. gallica).
1926 J. B. Davy Man. Fl. Plants Transvaal i. 149 S[ilene] gallica... Gunpowder weed... The black seeds resemble grains of gunpowder, hence the vern. [sic] name.
1946 M. Wilman Check List Flowering Plants Griqualand W. 16 S[ilene] gallica..an increasingly frequent weed; September. Gunpowder weed.
C2.
a. Gunpowder Plot n. the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament on November 5, 1605, while the King and Lords and Commons were assembled there. (So gunpowder conspiracy, gunpowder treason, gunpowder traitor, etc.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > intention > planning > plotting > [noun] > a plot > specific plots
bye1603
vault-treasona1610
Screw Plot1710
Gunpowder Plot1796
society > authority > lack of subjection > rebelliousness > insurrection > [noun] > an insurrection > specific
Jacquerie1523
powder treason1607
powder plot1611
the Fifteena1797
Gunpowder Plot1796
whisky insurrection1824
the Forty-five1832
whisky rebellion1863
Easter Rising1916
intifada1985
1611–12 in H. J. F. Swayne Churchwardens' Accts. Sarum (1896) 161 Ringinge..on the daie of the Gunpowder treasonn.
1626 T. Scott Sir Walter Rawleighs Ghost 38 And to this I call vp the plot of all plots..the Gun-pouder conspiracie.
1630 J. Wadsworth Eng. Spanish Pilgrime (new ed.) vii. 62 There is one Sir Edward Bainham, who was a grand complotter of the Gunpowder treason.
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 279 Even Gunpowder Enormities and Desolation did blow up all as at one crack.
1659 O. Walker Some Instr. Art of Oratory 61 The Earl of Northamptons speech against the gun-powder-Traitors.
1685 J. Evelyn Diary (1955) IV. 487 It being the first Gunpouder conspiracy Anniversary, that had ben kept..under a Prince of the Roman Religion.
1705 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. 6 Nov. (O.H.S.) I. 66 Yesterday being Gunpowder treason 'twas observed more than it us'd to be at Lond.
1796 J. Caulfield (title) The History of the Gunpowder plot.
1897 S. R. Gardiner Gunpowder Plot i. 7 Was Salisbury such an idiot as to inform his ‘domestic gentleman’ that he had made up his mind to invent Gunpowder Plot?
b. † Gunpowder day n. (also Gunpowder treason day) Obsolete November 5; = Guy Fawkes day n. at guy n.2 1b.
ΚΠ
1613 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/5) For the ryngers on the goonpouder daye.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 596 The fifth of November, being gunpowder treason day.
1855 J. Ruskin in W. G. Collingwood Life & Work J. Ruskin I. 194 Am going to press..on Gunpowder Plot day.
Derivatives
ˈgunpowderous adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > excitability of temperament > [adjective]
tickle1534
gunpowder1598
agitable1603
activable1606
thatched1606
excitable1609
powdery1611
incensible1614
hot-bloodeda1616
warm-headed1690
combustible1698
fermentable1731
intoxicablea1734
tindery1753
inflammable1800
pattypan1858
gunpowdery1868
gunpowderous1870
erethic1888
arousable1890
hyper1942
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > [adjective] > irascible (of person)
hotOE
wooda1250
hastivec1300
irous1303
hastya1350
angrya1387
melancholiousa1393
quicka1400
irefulc1400
melancholyc1450
turnec1480
iracundiousa1492
passionatea1500
fumish1523
irascible1530
wrothful1535
fierya1540
warm1547
choleric1556
hot at hand1558
waspish1566
incensive1570
bilious1571
splenative1593
hot-livered1599
short1599
spitfire1600
warm-tempered1605
temperless1614
sulphurous1616
angryable1662
huffy1680
hastish1749
peppery1778
quick-tempered1792
inflammable1800
hair-triggered1806
gingery1807
spunky1809
iracund1821
irascid1823
wrathy1828
frenzy1859
gunpowdery1868
gunpowderous1870
tempersome1875
exacerbescent1889
tempery1905
lightningy1906
temperish1925
short-fused1979
1870 C. Dickens Edwin Drood vi. 38 His philanthropy was of that gunpowderous sort that the difference between it and animosity was hard to determine.
ˈgunpowdery adj. pertaining to or characteristic of gunpowder; of the bluish colour of gunpowder; figurative fiery, easily fired, inflamed, or irritated.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > excitability of temperament > [adjective]
tickle1534
gunpowder1598
agitable1603
activable1606
thatched1606
excitable1609
powdery1611
incensible1614
hot-bloodeda1616
warm-headed1690
combustible1698
fermentable1731
intoxicablea1734
tindery1753
inflammable1800
pattypan1858
gunpowdery1868
gunpowderous1870
erethic1888
arousable1890
hyper1942
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > [adjective] > irascible (of person)
hotOE
wooda1250
hastivec1300
irous1303
hastya1350
angrya1387
melancholiousa1393
quicka1400
irefulc1400
melancholyc1450
turnec1480
iracundiousa1492
passionatea1500
fumish1523
irascible1530
wrothful1535
fierya1540
warm1547
choleric1556
hot at hand1558
waspish1566
incensive1570
bilious1571
splenative1593
hot-livered1599
short1599
spitfire1600
warm-tempered1605
temperless1614
sulphurous1616
angryable1662
huffy1680
hastish1749
peppery1778
quick-tempered1792
inflammable1800
hair-triggered1806
gingery1807
spunky1809
iracund1821
irascid1823
wrathy1828
frenzy1859
gunpowdery1868
gunpowderous1870
tempersome1875
exacerbescent1889
tempery1905
lightningy1906
temperish1925
short-fused1979
1868 Pall Mall Gaz. 18 Nov. 3 It [the poetry] is gunpowdery to an intense degree.
1871 ‘M. Legrand’ Cambr. Freshman 168 There was a very gunpowdery atmosphere in the room when Mrs. Cribb came in. ‘They're been lettin' off fireworks or something..’, she said.
1872 Daily News 20 July Brought up amid gunpowdery scenes of this kind..is it to be wondered at that the young Maurice de MacMahon should have started in the army as a Legitimist fire-eater of the fiercest kind?
1889 Catholic Househ. 2 Nov. 3/2 To give gunpowdery battle to the Pope and all his satellites.
1897 Westm. Gaz. 29 Dec. 5/1 Among these were a good many stage folk—you could tell them by their gunpowdery chins.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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n.1411- circumterraneous
- circumterrestrial
- circumumbilical
- circumundulate
- circumundulation
- circumvagant
- circumvall
- circumvallate
- circumvallated
- circumvallates
- circumvallating
- circumvallation
- circumvallations
- circumvect
- circumvection
- circumvene
- circumvener
- circumvent
- circumventable
- circumvented
- circumventer
- circumventers
- circumventing
- circumvention
- circumventions