ADS-L Digest - 3 Jan 2008 to 4 Jan 2008 (#2008-5)

[Mark Mandel]

Maybe not shot, but powder. From OED Online:

corn, n.1
def. I.1.b:

[obs] spec. One of the roundish particles into which gunpowder is formed by
the corning or granulating process; a grain of corn-powder. Obs. Cf. CORN v.
1.

1595 MARKHAM Sir R. Grinvile Argt., Sir Richard mayntained the fight, till
he had not one corne of powder left. 1660 W. SECKER Nonsuch Prof. 343 A
Train of Powder..takes fire from corn to corn, till at last the Barrel is
burst in sunder. 1669 STURMY Mariner's Mag. v. 65 The harder the Corns of
Powder are in feeling, by so much the better it is. 1736 CARTE Ormonde I.
583 The soldiers..else would not have had a corn of powder..in case of an
action.

m a m

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