fu·see

also fu·zee (fyo͞o-zē′)

1. A usually cone-shaped pulley with a spiral groove, used in a cord- or chain-winding clock to maintain even travel in the timekeeping mechanism as the force of the mainspring lessens in unwinding.

a. A colored flare used as a warning signal for trucks and railroad trains.

b. A match with a large head capable of burning in a wind.

c. A combustible fuse for detonating explosives.

[From French fusée, spindle, rocket, flare, fuse, fusee, from Old French, spindleful of thread, from fus, spindle, from Latin fūsus.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

fusee

(fjuːˈziː) or

fuzee

1. (Horology) (in early clocks and watches) a spirally grooved spindle, functioning as an equalizing force on the unwinding of the mainspring

2. (Chemistry) a friction match with a large head, capable of remaining alight in a wind

3. (Chemistry) an explosive fuse

[C16: from French fusée spindleful of thread, from Old French fus spindle, from Latin fūsus]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

fu•see

or fu•zee

(fyuˈzi)

n., pl. -sees or -zees.

1. a wooden friction match having a large head, formerly used when a larger than normal flame was needed.

2. a red flare light, used on a railroad as a warning signal to approaching trains.

3. a spirally grooved, conical pulley and chain arrangement for counteracting the diminishing power of an uncoiling mainspring in a watch.

4. fuse ¹ (def. 1).

[1580–90; < Middle French fusée spindleful, derivative of Old French *fus spindle. See fuse¹]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	fusee - a spirally grooved spindle in a clock that counteracts the diminishing power of the uncoiling mainspring fusee drive clock - a timepiece that shows the time of day drive - a mechanism by which force or power is transmitted in a machine; "a variable speed drive permitted operation through a range of speeds"
	2.	fusee - a colored flare used as a warning signal by trucks and trains fuzee flare - a device that produces a bright light for warning or illumination or identification
	3.	fusee - a friction match with a large head that will stay alight in the wind fuzee friction match, match, lucifer - lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction; "he always carries matches to light his pipe"; "as long you've a lucifer to light your fag"
	4.	fusee - any igniter that is used to initiate the burning of a propellant fuze, primer, priming, fuse, fuzee detonating fuse - a fuse containing an explosive igniter, ignitor, lighter, light - a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires; "do you have a light?" safety fuse - a slow-burning fuse consisting of a tube or cord filled or saturated with combustible matter; used to ignite detonators from a distance time-fuse - a fuse made to burn for a given time (especially to explode a bomb)

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

That Parsee smells fire like a fusee; and smells of it himself, like a hot musket's powder-pan.

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In equipping the two kinds of trappers, the Creole and Canadian are apt to prefer the light fusee; the American always grasps his rifle; he despises what he calls the "shot-gun." We give these estimates on the authority of a trader of long experience, and a foreigner by birth.

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The naturalist, who had advanced with sufficient deliberation to note the smallest hostile demonstration of the garrison, now raised a white handkerchief on the end of his fusee, and came within speaking distance of the fortress.

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Sometimes he would notice it, pat it, call it half-mocking, half-jocular names, and so make it caper with extraordinary delight; sometimes he would ill-treat it, especially after he had been at the whiskey, kicking it, beating it, pelting it with stones or lighted fusees. But whether he treated it well or ill, it loved nothing so much as to be near him.

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Involuntarily every one stopped; the abbe quitted his window; the first fusees of the fireworks began to mount above the trees.

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The horses, who were commanded to charge the advancing Highlanders in the flank, received an irregular fire from their fusees as they ran on, and, seized with a disgraceful panic, wavered, halted, disbanded, and galloped from the field.

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It happened that he had appointed to go out in this boat, either for pleasure or for fish, with two or three Moors of some distinction in that place, and for whom he had provided extraordinarily, and had, therefore, sent on board the boat overnight a larger store of provisions than ordinary; and had ordered me to get ready three fusees with powder and shot, which were on board his ship, for that they designed some sport of fowling as well as fishing.

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Do you know, Monsieur d'Artagnan, that if the king did not happen to be under my roof, I would take this candle, go straight to the dome, and set fire to a couple of huge chests of fusees and fireworks which are in reserve there, and would reduce my palace to ashes."

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I carried also a hundred spare arms, muskets, and fusees; besides some pistols, a considerable quantity of shot of all sizes, three or four tons of lead, and two pieces of brass cannon; and, because I knew not what time and what extremities I was providing for, I carried a hundred barrels of powder, besides swords, cutlasses, and the iron part of some pikes and halberds.

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The fusee movement of the exhibition watch with subsidiary dials showing seconds and up/down wind indicator.

Ticking all the right boxes; If you have time on your hands, it's the perfect excuse to indulge in a little clock watching