Definition

Noun: A type of dynamite in which the nitroglycerin is absorbed into a base of wood pulp and sodium or potassium nitrate. It is a stable, gelatinous explosive.

Usage

The word gelly is a technical term used primarily in the fields of mining, demolition, and historical explosives manufacturing. It refers specifically to a gelatinous form of dynamite.

Examples

• The miners used gelly for blasting through the hard rock.
• This old storage manual lists safety procedures for handling gelly.
• The stability of gelly made it preferable to liquid nitroglycerin for certain applications.

Advanced Usage

• Gelignite: This is a common and more specific synonym for gelly. Gelignite is a type of explosive gel consisting of nitroglycerin, guncotton, and potassium nitrate.
  • The safecrackers were found with sticks of gelignite.

Variants and Related Words

• Gelignite (noun): A specific, common type of gelly explosive.
• Dynamite (noun): The broader category of high explosives to which gelly belongs.
• Explosive (noun): The general class of substances.

Synonyms

• Gelignite
• Blasting gelatin
• Gelatin dynamite

Notes on Meaning

The term gelly is very specific and is not used in everyday language. It is an abbreviated, informal form of "gelignite" or "gelatin dynamite." It should not be confused with the common word "jelly" (a fruit preserve).

Noun

1. a type of dynamite in which the nitroglycerin is absorbed in a base of wood pulp and sodium or potassium nitrate