touchwood Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun material for starting a fire
    punk; kindling; tinder; spunk.

WordNet

Touch"wood` noun
Etymology
Probably for tachwood; OE. tache tinder (of uncertain origin) + wood.
Definitions
  1. Wood so decayed as to serve for tinder; spunk, or punk.
  2. Dried fungi used as tinder; especially, the Polyporus igniarius.

Webster 1913