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yl, with some element or radical; as, potassium carboxide. Potassium carboxide, a grayish explosive crystalline compound, C6O6K, obtained by passing carbon monoxide over heated potassium.

One who, or that which, crushes. Crusher gauge, an instrument for measuring the explosive force of gunpowder, etc., by its effect in compressing a piece of metal.

Burning with a sudden and sparkling combustion, as niter; hence, slightly explosive; liable to snap and crackle when heated, as salt.

Firing off; explosive removal of a charge; explosion; letting off; as, a discharge of arrows, of artillery.

Explosive.

Starting asunder; bursting and opening with an elastic force; dehiscing explosively; as, a dissilient pericarp.

An absorbent material; esp., in high explosives, the sawdust, infusorial earth, mica, etc., mixed with nitroglycerin to make a damp powder (dynamite, etc.) less dangerous to transport, and ordinarily explosive only by suitable fulminating caps.

An explosive substance consisting essentially of sawdust or wood pulp, saturated with nitroglycerin and other similar nitro compounds. It is inferior to dynamite, and is more liable to explosion.

An explosive substance consisting of nitroglycerin absorbed by some inert, porous solid, as infusorial earth, sawdust, etc. It is safer than nitroglycerin, being less liable to explosion from moderate shocks, or from spontaneous decomposition.

An instrument or agent causing explosion; an exploder; also, an explosive.

cavation, by exposing it to the action of fire; -- now generally superseded by the use of explosives. Raymond. -- Fire ship, a vessel filled with combustibles, for setting fire to an enemy's ships. -- Fire shovel, a shovel for taking up coals of fire. -- Fire stink, the stench from decomposing iron pyrites, caused b…

A gun, pistol, or any weapon from a shot is discharged by the force of an explosive substance, as gunpowder.

A small mine, in the form of a well sunk from the surface of the ground, charged with explosive and projectiles. It is made in a position likely to be occupied by the enemy.

A fulminating powder. Fulminate of gold, an explosive compound of gold; -- called also fulminating gold, and aurum fulminans.

or censures. Fulminating oil, nitroglycerin. -- Fulminating powder (Chem.) any violently explosive powder, but especially one of the fulminates, as mercuric fulminate.

and cyanuric acids, and not known in the free state, but forming a large class of highly explosive salts, the fulminates. Of these, mercuric fulminate, the most common, is used, mixed with niter, to fill percussion caps, charge cartridges, etc. -- Fulminic acid is made by the action of nitric acid on alcohol.…

acids, and designating an acid so called. Fulminuric acid (Chem.), a white, crystalline, explosive subatance, H3C3N3O3, forming well known salts, and obtained from the fulnunates. It is isomeric with cyanuric acid, and hence is also called isocyanuric acid.

A small packet of explosive material with wire appendages allowing it to be conveniently attached to a railroad track. It will explode with a loud report when run over by a train, and is used to provide a warning signal to the engineer.

A hollow ball or shell of iron filled with powder of other explosive, ignited by means of a fuse, and thrown from the hand among enemies. Hand grenade. (a) A small grenade of iron or glass, usually about two and a half inches in diameter, to be thrown from the hand into the head of a sap, trenches, covered way, or upon…

sisting of a tube or barrel closed at one end, in which the projectile is placed, with an explosive charge behind, which is ignited by various means. Muskets, rifles, carbines, and fowling pieces are smaller guns, for hand use, and are called small arms. Larger guns are called cannon, ordnance, fieldpieces, carronades,…