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Glite Dictionary
frizzen

frizzen

1 9.9
A metal part on a flintlock that makes sparks when hit by flint
  • noun
  • /ˈfrɪzən/
  • Archaic
: frizzen
  • He seated the ball, then primed his pan, blowing away the excess powder, and shoved down the frizzen plate over the pan.

Examples

  • When the flint struck the frizzen, it produced a bright shower of sparks that ignited the powder in the pan.

  • The flint struck the frizzen, showered sparks into the pan.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • He prayed silently that the powder in the pan was still dry as he slapped the frizzen in place with his thumb.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • He carefully adjusted the angle of the flint so that it would strike the frizzen effectively during firing.

  • Before taking aim, she made sure the frizzen was properly aligned with the flint for a reliable spark.

Surface Forms

frizzen singular
frizzens plural

Etymology

Frizzen is easy to remember if you think of the quick frizz sound of a spark. A helpful way to remember is that the frizzen is the metal 'steel' part of a flintlock that the flint hits to make 'sparks', so the name fits what it does.