tinderbox

== English == === Alternative forms === tinder-box, tinder box === Etymology === From tinder +‎ box, first use appears c. 1530, in the writings of John Palsgrave. === Pronunciation === === Noun === tinderbox (plural tinderboxes) (historical) A small container containing flint, steel, and tinder (dry, finely-divided fibrous matter), once used to help kindle a fire. (by extension) A place that is so dry and hot that there is danger of fire. (figurative) A potentially dangerous situation. ==== Synonyms ==== (potentially dangerous situation): powder keg, powderkeg, powder magazine ==== Hypernyms ==== box ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === tinderbox on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “tinderbox”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. “tinderbox, tinder-box”, in Google Books Ngram Viewer.