I need some word help, Paul.    Can you tell me the meaning of a
"fire lock
  fowling piece"?  One of my g'fathers who died in 1720, left to his
son in
his Will.  I presume that it to be a firearm of some type???   Debra

********

Interesting question for all, Deb.

Sure, before flintlocks, we had firelocks (aka matchlocks) which had a
piece of punk inserted in a holder on the "hammer".  The punk was lit,
and remained hot and glowing for a long while.  When
the trigger was pulled, the piece of punk was lowered to the tiny
"pan" that
contained flash powder, and there was a hole from that pan into the
chamber
of the firearm, it also having powder in it.  The flame quickly ran
down the hole and ignited the charge, thus propelling the projectile
out of the muzzle.

Interestingly, when a matchlock or flintlock ignited the powder in the
pan,
and yet the flame failed to run into the hole and to the chamber, the
gun
would not fire.  Thus came the now nearly forgotten expression for a
person
who was brilliant at first, yet came to nothing, "a flash in the pan".
Similarly, "keep your powder dry" - meaning  "be prepared" - also
arose from the fact that the weapon would not fire if the powder in
the pan had become damp or wet from rain or otherwise.

That original weapon from your ancestor would be worth MUCH today.

To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html