Touchholes

Jones and his men promptly spiked all thirty-six guns of the battery, driving heavy nails into their touchholes so the cannon could not be fired. ❋ 9781451603996 (2003)

The sparks ignited the powder in the pans, there was a pause as the fire fizzed through the seven hundred touchholes, then an almighty crackling roar as the heavy muskets flamed. ❋ Cornwell, Bernard (1997)

There were guns with barrels disguised as crouching tigers, and guns inscribed with flowing Arabic letters, and guns supplied from France, some still with the ancient Bourbon cipher incised close to their touchholes. ❋ Cornwell, Bernard (1997)

Some guns shot their vents, leaving a gaping hole where their touchholes had been, while others broke their carriages, and one twelve-pounder exploded as an air bubble in its cast barrel finally gave way. ❋ Cornwell, Bernard, 1944- (1990)

We set to work to pick out our touchholes and clean our rifles, knowing that we might not have time later, and that a single miss-fire might cost us all our lives. ❋ Various (N/A)

_Ticonderoga_ had to fire her guns by means of pistols flashed at the touchholes (like Barclay on Lake Erie). ❋ Theodore Roosevelt (1888)

_Detroit_, who had to discharge the great guns by flashing pistols at the touchholes, and yet made such a terribly effective defence. ❋ Theodore Roosevelt (1888)

Barclay fought the _Detroit_ exceedingly well, her guns being most excellently aimed, though they actually had to be discharged by flashing pistols at the touchholes, so deficient was the ship's equipment. ❋ Theodore Roosevelt (1888)

When we get there we can make our way among them, keeping on the ground so that the sentry cannot see us against the sky; and then with a sponge full of water we can give a squeeze on each of the touchholes, so there would be no chance of their going off till the charges were drawn. ❋ Unknown (1867)

This artilleryman, who was not a native Russian, but one of the foreigners whom the Czar had enlisted in his service, became exasperated at some ill treatment which he received from the Russian nobleman who commanded his corps; so he secretly drove nails into the touchholes of all the guns in the battery, and then, in the night, went over to the Turks and informed them what he had done. ❋ Jacob Abbott (1841)

Firemen are here, squirting with their fire-pumps on the Invalides 'cannon, to wet the touchholes; they unfortunately cannot squirt so high; but produce only clouds of spray. ❋ Thomas Carlyle (1838)

The Amazons recoil; Saint-Antoine has its cannon pointed (full of grapeshot); thrice applies the lit flambeau; which thrice refuses to catch, -- the touchholes are so wetted; and voices cry: "Arretez, il n'est pas temps encore, Stop, it is not yet time!" ❋ Thomas Carlyle (1838)

Old cannon, with touchholes almost as big as their muzzles, were looked upon as inestimable treasures. ❋ Nathaniel Hawthorne (1834)

Hand guns of the fourteenth century were equipped with touchholes; in order to discharge such a weapon it was necessary to touch it with a torch. ❋ Unknown (1988)

" The Duke was saving his guns the wear and tear of incessant firing that could blow out touchholes and even split barrels. ❋ Cornwell, Bernard, 1944- (1990)

a small gutter, to contain a train of powder; in this train the barrels rest with their touchholes downwards, and in the rear of the breeches of the barrels is a mass of sand. ❋ Samuel Sidney (1848)

"Yewwww touchhole" "This touchhole [walked in] and started [fucking with] me for no [goddamn] reason." ❋ Travis Hodgdon (2008)

Hey, [Touchhole], it's [wicked] [irritating] when you do that. He thinks he's cunnin', but he's really just being a [touchhole]. ❋ Servechilled (2010)

[That guy] just [cut me off], [what a] touchhole. ❋ DeBeth (2009)

❋ Dave (2003)

Wadya [wan't] [ya] touchhole ❋ J. Teck (2005)

[what a] touchhole! [Stan] is [acting] like a touchhole. ❋ Sarca$tic Ba$tid (2003)

[Your such a] touchhole. ❋ Wagon (2003)

Bob: Yo i couldnt study last [nite] Jack: why the hell not Bob: cause my roommate kept [playin] this [dumb ass] video game all nite Jack: what a f--kin touchhole ❋ Killshooter (2006)

[Fishy] Fridge: OH My God, He is a such [touchhole] Sam: Yeah Babe, He is a [Malik] innit, thats why! ❋ Official MOxford Dictionary (2011)

“That guy [goes] [apeshit] [at the drop of a hat]. He’s a Grade-A touchhole.” ❋ Wordcrimes (2023)