linstock

noun

lin·​stock ˈlin-ˌstäk How to pronounce linstock (audio)
: a staff having a pointed foot (as for sticking into the ground) and a forked tip and formerly used to hold a lighted match for firing cannon

Word History

Etymology

Dutch lontstok, from lont match + stok stick

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of linstock was in 1575

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Linstock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linstock. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

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