non-flamadj.n.
/nɒnˈflam/, U.S. /ˈnɑnˈflæm/ Chiefly British.
A. adj.
= non-flammable adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > quality of being incombustible > [adjective]
incombustible1471
uncombustible1576
inconsumable1646
incremable1646
uninflammable1666
unconsumable1670
non-inflammable1817
non-flammable1852
unburnable1881
non-flam1906
1906 Chambers's Jrnl. 24 Nov. 831/2 A British firm, the patentees of ‘Non-Flam’ goods, of Aytoun Street, Manchester, points out that however efficacious Professor Doremus's prescription may be, it will need to be applied to the curtains every time they are washed.
1927 Daily Tel. 25 Oct. 14 In France from Jan. 1 next no celluloid film may be used unless made from this so-called ‘non-flam’ film.
1968 Punch 17 Jan. 77/2 (caption) You've sure got a point there, Senator—non-flam draft cards.
1992 Evening Standard 28 Sept. 53 (table) DIY job: use non-flam materials such as foam, split-tube rubber or felt strip.
B. n.
A thing or substance that is not flammable; (also) a process which renders something not flammable. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > quality of being incombustible > [noun] > substance
incombustible1807
non-flam1908
1908 Daily Chron. 20 Oct. 3/6 It would be a good thing if the Government would..prohibit the use of any but ‘non-flam’ or other permanently incombustible flannelette for infants' garments.
1909 Daily Chron. 27 Feb. 4/7 ‘Non-Flam’..will not flare when brought into contact with fire.
1931 Proc. Royal Soc. 1930–31 A. 130 p. xi Excepting..in connection with ‘non-flam’, a process for rendering fabrics non-inflammable, it is probable that his name never appeared on a patent specification.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1906