ˈtouch-hole
[f. touch- in touch-powder + hole.]
A small tubular hole in the breech of a fire-arm, through which the charge is ignited; the vent.
| 1501 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. II. 25 Item, for casting of the erd fra Mons [Meg], and to turne hir and lay the twych hole vp,..iij s. ij d. 1560 Whitehorne Ord. Souldiours 33 Putting sum poulder in the touchehole and aboute the touchhole, the Gunne is then charged. 1618 in Foster Eng. Factories Ind. (1906) 31 The fire out of hir toutchole (as yt is most likely) tooke hold of the bandeleros. 1709 W. Dampier Voy. III. ii. 81 Six bad Guns..whose Touch-holes..are so enlarg'd..that a great part of the strength of the Powder flies away there. 1837 W. Irving Capt. Bonneville (1849) 193 Some of the more knowing..contrived to stop the touch-holes of the field-pieces with dirt. |
b. fig. or allusively.
| 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. ii. Wks. 1856 I. 19 The match..will presently set fire to the touch-hole of intemperance. 1617 Middleton & Rowley Fair Quarrel ii. ii. a 1625 Fletcher & Mass. Cust. Country iii. iii. 1664 Butler Hud. ii. ii. 830 Like linstock, to the horse's touch-hole. |