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