1. a piece of flint used to strike sparks in the firing mechanism of a flintlock gun
Usage: historical; typically used in the context of 17th–19th century firearms

Examples

• The soldier carefully replaced the worn gunflint in his musket before battle.
• Gunflints were essential supplies for armies during the Revolutionary War.
• A sharp gunflint could produce reliable sparks for hundreds of shots.
• The blacksmith crafted gunflints from high-quality flint stone.
• Without a good gunflint, the flintlock rifle would not fire.