Meanings
nounphosphorus match (plural phosphorus matches)
plural phosphorus matches
- historicalA friction match tipped with white phosphorus, dangerously able to be ignited by strikes against any surface.
Synonyms: locofoco, locofoco match, barnburner, lucifer, lucifer match, Congreve match, Congreve
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA friction match tipped with white phosphorus, dangerously able to be ignited by strikes against any surface.
Similar
Origin
From their use of white phosphorus.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
phosphorus match. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phosphorus%20match
MLA
“phosphorus match.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phosphorus%20match. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phosphorus match,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phosphorus%20match.
Source: phosphorus match on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.