percussion cap
1
9.7
- noun
- /pərˈkʌʃən kæp/
- Archaic
:
capsula de percusión
- The Macon Central Laboratory even bought copper turpentine and brandy stills in North Carolina for melting into percussion caps.
- percussion cap on the nipple
Examples
-
My speculation is that it was a percussion shotgun because I remember there being percussion caps in a tin box in the clock in my grandparents' bedroom.
Blog text (11) -
Other Macon companies, on their own initiative, manufactured swords, harnesses, bowie knives, rifles, and percussion caps.
Academic text (2007) -
Cocking the piece, he placed a percussion cap on the nipple.
Fiction book (1990) -
When we ram into it, the ends of these nails will hit the percussion caps and shoot the bullets into the gelatin.
-
Some hot-shot tracker today brought in a big order of spark plugs and percussion caps.
-
"A rifle grenade?" The Federals sometimes used hand grenades fused with percussion caps.
Fiction book (1992) -
What I wanted to know is whether there have been more recent federal laws passed, new interpretations of existing laws, or newer case law that bars felons from owning and possessing black powder weapons, black powder, lead balls, and/or percussion caps.
Blog text (11) -
To prepare the rifle for firing, first, you must place a percussion cap on the nipple.
-
When the firing pin strikes the percussion cap, it creates a spark that ignites the gunpowder.
-
He checked the percussion cap to ensure it was properly secured before taking aim.
Synonyms
39
7.3
A small device that makes a loud pop when it is set off
11
7.9
A small device that makes a larger explosive go off
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly compositional: 'percussion' (ignition by impact) + 'cap' (a small device) yields a small device that ignites by percussion to fire a charge. Although technical, the constituent meanings describe the function clearly, so a learner who knows both words can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Percussion cap comes from the idea of percussion as a 'strike' and cap as a small cover. A small metal cap would explode when hit and 'light' the gunpowder to make the gun fire, so the name shows this device makes a firearm go off when struck.