Definition of "gelignite" [gelignite]

• An explosive mixture composed of nitroglycerine, guncotton, wood pulp, and potassium nitrate. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Gun cotton and gelignite were used – the former to cut steelwork and the latter to destroy the piers supporting the spans."
• "The bridge roadways were cut by suspending a cradle underneath, placing boxes of gelignite on the cradle and then hauling the whole contraption up tight against the under-surface of the roadway."
• "The fat beared imbeciles, otherwise known as the F. B.I, running into each other as they try to ignite each other's gelignite laden jock straps; tripping over placards as they troop glumly into court."