Materials or substances that are capable of catching fire and burning; plural of combustible.
From Latin 'combustibilis' (capable of being burned) plus English plural '-s.' The word entered English in the 17th century as chemistry developed and needed terms for flammable substances.
A ship's 'combustibles' were carefully inventoried and separated—a single accident could destroy the vessel. Fire on wooden ships was literally more feared than combat because it meant certain death for everyone aboard.
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