%fuze%

{ or }, n. (Elec.) A wire, bar, or strip of fusible metal inserted for safety in an electric circuit. When the current increases beyond a certain safe strength, the metal melts, interrupting the circuit and thereby preventing possibility of damage. It serves the same function as a circuit breaker. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. A tube, filled with combustible matter, for exploding a shell, etc. See Fuse, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chemical fuze, a fuze in which substances separated until required for action are then brought into contact, and uniting chemically, produce explosion. --
Concussion fuze, a fuze ignited by the striking of the projectile. --
Electric fuze, a fuze which is ignited by heat or a spark produced by an electric current. --
Friction fuze, a fuze which is ignited by the heat evolved by friction. See fuzee{ 1 }. --
Percussion fuze, a fuze in which the ignition is produced by a blow on some fulminating compound. --
Time fuze, a fuze adapted, either by its length or by the character of its composition, to burn a certain time before producing an explosion. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a friction match with a large head that will stay alight in the wind.
Syn. -- fusee. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. any device by which an explosive charge is ignited.
Syn. -- fuse, fuze, fusee, primer. [ WordNet 1.5 ]