linstock

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A pointed forked staff, shod with iron at the foot, to hold a lighted match for firing cannon.

   […] now, sir, (as we were to ascend), their master gunner (a man of no mean skill and courage, you must think,) confronts me with his linstock ready to give fire;

Corrupted from luntstock, Dutch lontstok, from lont (“lunt”) + stok (“stock, stick”). See link (“a torch”), lunt, and stock.

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