Definition

1. Noun:
   • A smokeless explosive propellant: Cordite is a type of explosive material, specifically a propellant, used primarily in ammunition. It is characterized by being smokeless when fired.
   • A specific chemical composition: Historically, cordite was a mixture of nitroglycerin, guncotton (nitrocellulose), and a petroleum jelly like petrolatum, dissolved in acetone and then processed into cord-like strands.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The old artillery shells were loaded with cordite.
  • Cordite was a standard propellant for British military small arms and artillery for much of the 20th century.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Technical Context: The term is often used in historical or technical discussions about military history, ammunition, and explosives.
  • The development of cordite revolutionized naval warfare by reducing the amount of smoke produced during battles.

Variants and Related Words

• Propellant (n): A substance that propels something, like the explosive charge in a firearm or rocket.
• Explosive (n/adj): A substance that can cause an explosion; having the power to explode.
• Gunpowder (n): An older, smoky explosive mixture, often contrasted with smokeless propellants like cordite.

Synonyms

• Smokeless powder: A general term for propellants that produce minimal smoke, which includes cordite.
• Propellant: A broader term for any material that propels a projectile.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• The smell of cordite: A phrase used figuratively in literature and journalism to evoke the immediate aftermath of a battle or violent conflict.
  • The report from the war zone was filled with the smell of cordite and despair.

Noun

1. explosive powder (nitroglycerin and guncotton and petrolatum) dissolved in acetone and dried and extruded in brown cords