CORDITE

cordite

(noun) explosive powder (nitroglycerin and guncotton and petrolatum) dissolved in acetone and dried and extruded in brown cords

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

cordite (countable and uncountable, plural cordites)

A smokeless propellent made by combining two high explosives, nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine, used in some firearm ammunition.

Source: Wiktionary


Cord"ite, n. [From Cord, n.] (Mil.)

Definition: A smokeless powder composed of nitroglycerin, guncotton, and mineral jelly, and used by the British army and in other services. In making it the ingredients are mixed into a paste with the addition of acetone and pressed out into cords (of various diameters) resembling brown twine, which are dried and cut to length. A variety containing less nitroglycerin than the original is known as cordite M. D.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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