percussion cap

percussion cap — noun

1. A tiny metal cup holding an explosive that goes off when struck. On a gun, the h

1.名詞
釋義

A tiny metal cup holding an explosive that goes off when struck. On a gun, the hammer hits the cap, and the small blast lights the main powder charge inside the barrel. This replaced the older method of making a spark with flint and steel in the early 1800s.

例句

Private Chen fitted a fresh percussion cap onto the nipple of his rifle.

collocation: percussion cap + onto the nipple

Mateo pressed a percussion cap onto each chamber of his revolver before the shooting match.

pressed a percussion cap onto each chamber

同義詞
  • cap

    shortened form used among firearms enthusiasts; ambiguous outside context

常見錯誤

❌The soldier lit the percussion cap with a match.
✅The soldier pulled the trigger and the hammer struck the percussion cap.
💡percussion caps are set off by a sharp blow from the hammer, not by an open flame.