Definition
A delayed or partial firing of a gun or explosive charge, or metaphorically, something that is delayed, uncertain, or in suspense.
Etymology
Compound of 'hang' and 'fire,' from military terminology where a cannon or firearm might hang (pause) before firing fully, or fire with a delayed explosion. Used since the 17th century in military contexts, then metaphorically.
Kelly Says
During the age of cannons and early firearms, a 'hangfire' was genuinely dangerous—soldiers never knew if their weapon would fire, hang, explode early, or misfire, making it one of the earliest expressions for technical malfunction and uncertainty.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
እንደ ሰላም
en-de se-lam
ARالعربية
اشتعال بطيء
ish-ta-al ba-tee
BNবাংলা
ধীরে জ্বল
dee-re jwal
CACatalà
incendis lent
in-sen-dis len-t
CSČeština
pomalý požár
po-mal-y po-zhar
DADansk
langsom brand
lang-som brand
DEDeutsch
langsam brennender Brand
zlang-sam bren-nen-der brand
ELΕλληνικά
αργός πυρκαγιά
ar-gos pyr-ka-ya
ESEspañol
incendio lento
in-sen-dee-oh len-toh
FAفارسی
آتش سست
atash soost
FISuomi
hita pala
hee-ta pa-la
FRFrançais
incendie lent
in-sen-dee leh
HEעברית
התלקחות איטית
hit-lak-chot i-ttit
HIहिन्दी
धीमी आग
dee-mee aag
HUMagyar
lassú tűz
lass-oo teez
IDBahasa Indonesia
api yang lambat
ah-pee yang lam-but
ITItaliano
incendio lento
in-sen-dee-oh len-toh
MSBahasa Melayu
api perlahan
ah-pee per-lahan
NLNederlands
langzaam brand
lang-zaam brand
NONorsk
langsom brann
lang-som brann
PLPolski
wolno palący ogień
vol-no pa-louching o-gien
PTPortuguês
incêndio lento
in-sen-dee-oh len-toh
RORomână
incendiu lent
in-sen-dee-oo len-t
RUРусский
медленный пожар
med-len-nyy po-zhar
SVSvenska
långsam brand
lang-sam brand
SWKiswahili
motomoto
mo-to-mo-to
TAதமிழ்
தாமதமாக எரி
tha-matha-maga eri
TEతెలుగు
లేకుండా
le-ku-nda
THไทย
ไฟลุกไหม้ช้า
fai-look-mai-cha
TLTL
malakas na apoy
ma-la-kas na apo-y
TRTürkçe
yavaş yanma
ya-vash yan-mah
UKУкраїнська
повільний вогонь
po-vyl-nyy vog-on
VITiếng Việt
cháy chậm
chaa-y chowm