Tinder

/ˈtɪndər/ noun

Definition

Dry, flammable material like small sticks or bark used to start a fire; also, a dating app.

Etymology

From Old English 'tynder' with uncertain origins, possibly from Proto-Germanic. Historically it meant very dry punk wood or other material that catches fire easily from a spark.

Kelly Says

Before matches were invented in the 1800s, keeping tinder dry was literally a matter of survival—if you lost your fire, you had to go beg fire from a neighbor, which is why 'tender' became such an important task in households.

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