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Gunpowder

//ˈɡʌnˌpaʊdə// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An explosive mixture of saltpetre (potassium nitrate), charcoal and sulfur; formerly used in gunnery but now mostly used in fireworks. countable, uncountable

    "They have been a bold, heroic, and purely self dependent nation, never having either courted,—or been subdued by—other Tribes or Europeans. But what early mind—a power—could face gunpowder and the firelocks? Hence their annihilation!"

  2. 2
    Idli podi/milagai podi; ground-up dry spices mixed with oil and ghee and served alongside idli or dosa. India, informal, uncountable

    "Some restaurants try and give their dosas the "ethnic" touch by slipping along a small dish of mulaga podi-gunpowder mixed with oil as well, but that isn't always enough."

  3. 3
    a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks wordnet
  4. 4
    Ellipsis of gunpowder tea. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To destroy with gunpowder. transitive

    "[…] he was […] never getting into quarrels with his neighbors and gunpowdering them out of house and home. His subjects loved him."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From gun + powder.

Etymology 2

From gun + powder.

Etymology 3

Possibly due to its smell resembling gunpowder during the British Raj.

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