touchwood noun. ['tʌtʃwʊd] L16.
[from TOUCH noun, verb + WOOD noun¹.]
1. The pale soft crumbly substance into which wood is converted by the action of certain fungi, esp. Polyporus squamosus, and which will burn for many hours when once ignited. L16.

2. Any of various bracket fungi, esp. Fomes fomentarius and Phellinus igniarius, used to make tinder; the tinder (amadou) made from such a fungus. L16.

3. A person who or thing which readily ignites (lit. & fig.); esp. an irascible or passionate person. Now rare. E17.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲