cordite
/ˈkɔrdaɪt/
noun
- A smokeless explosive used in bullets and artillery shells, especially in the early 20th century.
- The old artillery shells still contained cordite, which had to be carefully disposed of.
- Historians often mention the smell of cordite on battlefields in descriptions of early modern warfare.
- During World War I, cordite was the standard propellant for British military ammunition.
Synonyms