ballistite

noun

Meaning

A smokeless propellant consisting of a mixture of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin, used primarily in military ammunition.

Examples

  • Alfred Nobel patented ballistite as a more stable alternative to earlier gunpowder mixtures.
  • The chemical composition of ballistite allowed for higher muzzle velocities in large-caliber naval guns.

Synonyms: propellant, explosive, cordite, gunpowder