A slow-burning wick or cord for lighting explosives.
〈史〉（炸药）缓燃引信
Example sentencesExamples
In the matchlock system, a length of smouldering slow match, instead of being held in the hand, was held in the jaws of a swivelling double-curved bar called a serpentine and brought to the touch-hole by operating a trigger.
Hornblower made his way next to the stairs to light the slow match.
Ignition is by a burning slow match (nitrated cord), which is clamped into the ‘serpentine.’
Definition of slow match in US English:
slow match
nounˈslō ˌmaCH
historical
A slow-burning wick or cord for lighting explosives.
〈史〉（炸药）缓燃引信
Example sentencesExamples
Ignition is by a burning slow match (nitrated cord), which is clamped into the ‘serpentine.’
In the matchlock system, a length of smouldering slow match, instead of being held in the hand, was held in the jaws of a swivelling double-curved bar called a serpentine and brought to the touch-hole by operating a trigger.
Hornblower made his way next to the stairs to light the slow match.