Lintstocks

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of flag or signal used in naval settings to indicate a ship's status or readiness for action; also referring to a specific equipment used for firing cannons aboard a vessel; it can denote a historical term associated with maritime warfare signaling methods
2. Signaling devices used for indicating troop movement or readiness in naval contexts; can also describe aspects of gunpowder artillery and how to employ its explosive capabilities; a term from nautical history related to communication at sea
3. Instruments employed for communication in naval operations, often to convey readiness or tactical maneuvers; may also reference mechanisms related to artillery firing practices; reflects terminology from historical maritime operations

Etymology: Naval gunners used a lintstock, a long wooden staff with a forked or clamped head, to fire cannon at arm's length, keeping their hands away from the blast. The forked end held a slow match, a cord that smouldered steadily so it could be pressed to the gun's touch-hole. It was a firing tool, not a signalling device, so the meaning given for this term does not match its actual use. The name is a compound. "Lint" here refers to scraped linen cloth, which was used as tinder because it catches a spark easily, not to the soft material used for dressings. "Stock" is an old word for a stick or staff. "Lintstocks" is simply the plural of "lintstock."