Match n.  Anything used for catching and retaining or communicating fire, made of some substance which takes fire readily, or remains burning some time; esp., a small strip or splint of wood or cardboard dipped at one end in a substance which can be easily ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus or chlorate of potassium.
 Match tub, a tub with a perforated cover for holding slow matches for firing cannon, esp. on board ship.  The tub contains a little water in the bottom, for extinguishing sparks from the lighted matches.
 Quick match, threads of cotton or cotton wick soaked in a solution of gunpowder mixed with gum arabic and boiling water and afterwards strewed over with mealed powder. It burns at the rate of one yard in thirteen seconds, and is used as priming for heavy mortars, fireworks, etc.
 Slow match, slightly twisted hempen rope soaked in a solution of limewater and saltpeter or washed in a lye of water and wood ashes. It burns at the rate of four or five inches an hour, and is used for firing cannon, fireworks, etc.


 Quick a. [Compar. Quicker superl. Quickest.]
 1. Alive; living; animate; -- opposed to dead or inanimate.
    Not fully quyke, ne fully dead they were.   --Chaucer.
    The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.   --2 Tim. iv. 1.
 Man is no star, but a quick coal
 Of mortal fire.   -- Herbert.
 Note: ☞ In this sense the word is nearly obsolete, except in some compounds, or in particular phrases.
 2. Characterized by life or liveliness; animated; sprightly; agile; brisk; ready. “ A quick wit.”
 3. Speedy; hasty; swift; not slow; as, be quick.
 Oft he to her his charge of quick return
 Repeated.   --Milton.
 4. Impatient; passionate; hasty; eager; eager; sharp; unceremonious; as, a quick temper.
    The bishop was somewhat quick with them, and signified that he was much offended.   -- Latimer.
 5. Fresh; bracing; sharp; keen.
 The air is quick there,
 And it pierces and sharpens the stomach.   -- Shak.
 6. Sensitive; perceptive in a high degree; ready; as, a quick ear. “To have an open ear, a quick eye.”
    They say that women are so quick.   --Tennyson.
 7. Pregnant; with child.
 Quick grass. Bot. See Quitch grass.
 Quick match. See under Match.
 Quick vein Mining, a vein of ore which is productive, not barren.
 Quick vinegar, vinegar made by allowing a weak solution of alcohol to trickle slowly over shavings or other porous material.
 Quick water, quicksilver water.
 Quick with child, pregnant with a living child.
 Syn: -- Speedy; expeditious; swift; rapid; hasty; prompt; ready; active; brisk; nimble; fleet; alert; agile; lively; sprightly.