Meanings
plural friction matches
- A match activated by the heat from friction when struck against some surface.
One house sends annually to London friction matches to the amount of 120,000 francs.
1847, editorial staff, “Friction Matches”, in Scientific American, series 1, Volume 3, Issue 10, page 73Synonyms: lucifer, lucifer match, friction light
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA match activated by the heat from friction when struck against some surface.
More synonyms by meaning
nounlighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Cite this entry
friction match. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/friction%20match
“friction match.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/friction%20match. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “friction match,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/friction%20match.
Source: friction match on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.