1. a long wooden staff with a forked end used to hold a lighted match for firing cannons
Usage: historical; military

Examples

• The artillery officer held the linstock ready to fire the cannon.
• Historical reenactors demonstrated how soldiers used a linstock to ignite gunpowder.
• The museum displayed an authentic 18th-century linstock alongside other military artifacts.
• Before modern firing mechanisms, cannoneers relied on the linstock for accurate timing.
• The linstock’s forked end securely held the slow-burning match cord.
• Naval gunners kept their linstocks dry to ensure reliable cannon fire during battles.