lyddite

[ lid-ahyt ]

/ ˈlɪd aɪt /

a high explosive consisting chiefly of picric acid.

Origin of lyddite

1885–90; named after Lydd, borough in SE England near the site where it was first tested; see -ite¹

lycosid, lycra, lycurgus, lycée, lydda, lyddite, lydgate, lydia, lydian, lydian mode, lye

At 10.30 our lyddite caused a big explosion at the foot of her mainmast, making a fire which never was entirely got under control.

Stories of the Ships |Lewis R. Freeman
Brandy had crimes committed in its name, and lyddite was a happy and appropriate appellation.

The Siege of Kimberley |T. Phelan
They began to move forward, and marched straight for the hill with two field batteries and one (p. 79) lyddite gun.

Through Shot and Flame |J. D. Kestell.
A lyddite missile had done the deed; no "common" shell, we argued, could have created such a noise.

The Siege of Kimberley |T. Phelan

The rocks around their howitzer were torn by lyddite, and the ground strewn with shrapnel bullets.

With Steyn and De Wet |Philip Pienaar

lyddite

/ (ˈlɪdaɪt) /

an explosive consisting chiefly of fused picric acid

a dense black variety of chert, formerly used as a touchstone

C19: (sense 1) named after Lydd, a town in Kent near which the first tests were made