match (historical usage)
[/mætʃ/]
nounpl: matches
fósforo; vela de fogo; mecha inflamável
1. A stick or cord treated with combustible material, historically used to ignite fires before modern safety matches were invented
The soldier lit the cannon with a slow match.
O soldado acendeu o canhão com uma mecha inflamável.
2. A slow-burning cord or fuse used in medieval and early modern warfare to ignite gunpowder weapons
Musketeers carried lit matches to fire their weapons.
Os mosqueteiros carregavam mechas acesas para disparar suas armas.
3. A small wooden stick tipped with sulfur or other flammable substance, predecessors to modern safety matches (19th century)
Before electric lights, people relied on matches to light candles and lamps.
Antes das luzes elétricas, as pessoas dependiam de fósforos para acender velas e lâmpadas.
The word 'match' in historical context is primarily relevant to European and American military history, particularly the 16th-18th centuries. In Portuguese, 'fósforo' (from phosphorus) became the standard term only in the 19th century after safety matches were invented. 'Mecha' (wick/fuse) was the historical term for the slow-burning cord used in cannons and early firearms. This terminology reflects the evolution of fire-starting technology and weaponry.
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →