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Definition of touchpaper

touchpaper

/ˈtʌtʃˌpeɪ.pər/
touch · pa · per
Plural:touchpapers
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touchpaper Lexical Profile

touchpaper Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British Paper soaked in a solution of saltpeter (potassium nitrate) and dried so that it burns slowly and evenly when lit, used as a fuse to ignite fireworks or gunpowder.

Example

"The safety instructions on the firework advised us to light the blue touchpaper and stand well back."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for touchpaper

Word Nuance & Usage

Primarily used in British English, both literally on fireworks (as in the traditional safety instruction "light the blue touchpaper and retire") and figuratively in the idiom "light the touchpaper" to mean provoking a sudden argument or volatile reaction.

• Nearby Words

touchless
touchline
touchpad
touchpaper
touchpoint
touchscreen
touchstone

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 18th century as a compound of "touch" (from the older sense of "touching off" or igniting gunpowder) and "paper."

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Touchpaper. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/touchpaper
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