Congreve
(ˈkɒŋgriːv)
[An English surname.]
1. More fully Congreve rocket: A kind of rocket for use in war, invented in 1808 by Col. Sir William Congreve (1772–1828).
| 1809 Naval Chron. XXI. 349 Shrapnell's shells and Congreve's rockets. Ibid. XXII. 371 A 32-pounder Congreve. 1827 Praed Poems, Red Fisherman, Sunk in their deep and hollow sockets That blazing couple of Congreve Rockets. 1831 Carlyle Sart. Res. ii. v, Your Congreve needs a new case or wrappage for every new rocket. |
2. More fully Congreve match: A particular kind of friction match, invented by Sir W. Congreve.
| 1839 Boston Herald 17 Dec. 4/1 In the drawer of the table..were a quantity of Congreve matches. 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 431, I believe I was the first who hawked ‘Congreves’, or ‘instantaneous lights’; they weren't called ‘lucifers’ for a good while after. 1854 Knight Once upon a Time II. 274 The penny box of Lucifers, or Congreves..is a..triumph of science. |