detonator
nounUK /ˈdɛt.ə.neɪ.tə(ɹ)/
Etymology From detonate + -or.
1
A device used to detonate an explosive device etc.
2
Rail transport, Railways, Transport UK A small explosive device attached to the railhead to provide an audible warning when a train passes over it.
- Warning messages were relayed to the signalmen at Slough East and Dolphin Junction boxes with such celerity that the up main signals were replaced to danger in front of the express before it finally stopped. The signalman at Dolphin Junction just had time to replace the down main signals and pull the emergency lever to lay detonators in front of the fast approaching 7 p.m. Paddington-Reading train.1960 March, “Talking of Trains: The Slough Derailment”, in Trains Illustrated, page 132:
3
Archaic Any explosive whose action is practically instantaneous.
4
Obsolete A gun fired by a percussion cap.
- Derived terms
- microdetonator, pencil detonator
- Related terms
- detonate, detonation, blasting cap