A device that ignites an explosive charge, designed to detonate a bomb, shell, or other munitions at a specific time or upon impact.
Originally spelled 'fuse,' this variant spelling 'fuze' was standardized by the U.S. military to distinguish it from the electrical 'fuse.' It comes from French fusée, meaning 'spindle' or 'fuse,' ultimately from Latin fusus (spindle).
Military arsenals deliberately use the spelling 'fuze' to prevent confusion with electrical fuses—a spelling standardization that could literally save lives by avoiding dangerous mix-ups.
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