Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The temperature at which an inflammable oil or hydrocarbon is liable to take fire spontaneously.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • And if, by some miracle, you did get hold of a frame and rockets, where would you find a firing-point close enough?

    The Sky Writer Geoff Barbanell 2010

  • However, since you seem to be a battlefield expert, perhaps you can tell me how Hezbollah is "aiming" an unguided ballistic rocket, which passes outside the firing-point line of sight in less than 10 seconds, at civilians.

    Universal Values Garry 2006

  • The watch on the rat-holes had been maintained, but the watchers had shifted to the hill slope above the holes, feeling this a safer firing-point.

    The Food of the Gods and how it came to Earth Herbert George 2004

  • But here we have to burst the shell sixty feet above the firing-point.

    Hornblower In The West Indies Forester, C. S. 1958

  • There is a private who comes down into the butts under my charge who ought to be especially grateful to Providence on this account, for I cannot induce him to make use of the red "Cease Fire!" flag before he ascends from the safety-pit; even when he does, he drags it out behind him so that the first thing those on the firing-point see is himself, and the second thing is the flag.

    Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, September 23, 1914 Various

  • In the photograph above the shells are seen bursting at a certain distance from the firing-point.

    The Illustrated War News, Number 21, Dec. 30, 1914 Various

  • The lantern of the rock lighthouse might suffer from concussion near at hand, and though mechanical arrangements might be devised, both in the case of the lighthouse and of the ship's deck, to place the firing-point of the gun-cotton at a safe distance, no such arrangement could compete, as regards simplicity and effectiveness, with the expedient of a gun-cotton rocket.

    Fragments of science, V. 1-2 John Tyndall 1856

  • Chapman Lighthouse, land and trees intervened between the firing-point and the place of observation.

    Fragments of science, V. 1-2 John Tyndall 1856

  • It is worthy, however, of note that on this day, with smooth water and a calm atmosphere, the rockets were distinctly heard at a distance of 11.2 miles from the firing-point.

    Fragments of science, V. 1-2 John Tyndall 1856

  • The first column in the annexed statement contains the name of the place of observation, the second its distance from the firing-point, and the third the result observed:

    Fragments of science, V. 1-2 John Tyndall 1856

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