Definition of "time-fuse" [time-fuse]

• A fuse calculated to burn a definite length of time. See fuse. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "The slackers at Homeland Security had not considered the possibility that I might construct a slow chemical time-fuse to ignite a tube of fuselage-melting mousse."
• "The presence of these people about the cabin might interfere with his plans, and so he had resolved to make a slow match do duty as a time-fuse."
• "Evidently there was a second series of charges, either inefficiently wired, or with a very long time-fuse."