TOUCH-NEEDLE
Touch"-nee`dle, n. (Metal.)
Defn: A small bar of gold and silver, either pure, or alloyed in some known proportion with copper, for trying the purity of articles of gold or silver by comparison of the streaks made by the article and the bar on a touchstone.
TOUCH-PAPER
Touch"-pa`per, n.
Defn: Paper steeped in saltpeter, which burns slowly, and is used as a match for firing gunpowder, and the like.
TOUCHSTONE
Touch"stone`, n.
1. (Min.)
Defn: Lydian stone; basanite; — so called because used to test the purity of gold and silver by the streak which is left upon the stone when it is rubbed by the metal. See Basanite.
2. Fig.:
Defn: Any test or criterion by which the qualities of a thing are
tried. Hooker.
The foregoing doctrine affords us also a touchstone for the trial of
spirits. South.
Irish touchstone (Min.), basalt, the stone which composes the Giant's
Causeway.
TOUCHWOOD Touch"wood`, n. Etym: [Probably for tachwood; OE. tache tinder (of uncertain origin) + wood.]