7 July 2018
touch paper
noun
1. paper saturated with potassium nitrate to make it burn slowly, used for igniting explosives and fireworks.
Origin of touch paper
First recorded in 1740-50
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for touch paper
Historical Examples
He then placed the touchpaper on an old cambric handkerchief.
Travels in North America, From Modern Writers
William Bingley
If a roman candle is intended to be fired singly, twist a piece of touchpaper round the mouth.
The Pyrotechnist’s Treasury
Thomas Kentish
After lighting the touchpaper, remove to a distance; as bits of string are likely to get driven into the face, on the explosion.
The Pyrotechnist’s Treasury
Thomas Kentish
Anagram
preach pout
capture hop
torch pupae
recoup path
Today’s quote
Looking at life from a different perspective makes you realize that it’s not the deer that is crossing the road, rather it’s the road that is crossing the forest.
– Muhammad Ali
On this day
7 July 1941 – birth of Bill Oddie, English comedian, star of ‘The Goodies’.
7 July 1953 – After graduating from medical school in June 1953, Dr Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara sets out on a train trip from Argentina to Bolivia and the Andes. His family don’t see him for six years, when he emerged in Havana, fighting for Fidel Castro’s Cuban Revolution. Following the successful overthrow of the government, Che was given key government positions within the Castro regime, including as Minister of Industries to implement agrarian reform.
7 July 1985 – 17 year old Boris Becker becomes the youngest player to win Wimbledon.
7 July 2005 – Four suicide bombers detonate themselves on London’s transport system, killing 56 people and injuring 700.
7 July 2007 – The New 7 Wonders Foundation officially declares a new ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ list:
- The Great Wall of China
- Petra, Jordan (a city carved into rock)
- Christ Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Machu Picchu, Peru
- Chichén Itzá Pyramid, Mexico
- Roman Colisseum, Italy
- Taj Mahal, Indian
The Original Seven Wonders of the World were:
- Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
- Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
- Statue of Zeus, Olympia, Greece
- Mausoleum of Maussollos at Hallicarnassus
- Colossus of Rhodes
- Lighthouse of Alexandria