tompion
9.9
A plug that fits the front of a gun to keep out dust and water
- noun
- /ˈtɑːmpɪən/
- Archaic
:
tompión
- The soldier inserted a tompion into the muzzle of his rifle to protect it from dust.
Examples
-
Before going into the field, he made sure to use a tompion to seal the cannon's mouth.
-
During maintenance, the technician checked the tompion to ensure it was still effective at preventing moisture.
-
a fine and rare late 17th-century Thomas Tompion ebonized bracket clock.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A plug for the end of a gun or cannon that keeps out dust and water
has identical meaning but is a different historical spelling
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word tompion comes from an old French word that meant a small 'plug'. It is the same root as the English tampon and like the verb tamp, so a tompion is literally a plug put into a cannon's barrel to keep out water and dust.