among artillery men, a kind of combustible preparation formed of three cotton strands drawn into length, and dipped in a boiling composi-tion of white-wine vinegar, saltpetre, and mealed pow-der. After this immersion it is taken out hot, and laid in a trough where some mealed powder, moistened with spirits of wine, is thoroughly incorporated into the twists of the cotton, by rolling it about therein. Thus pre-pared, they are taken out separately, and drawn through mealed powder; then hung upon a line and dried, by which they are fit for immediate service.