gunpowder
n. uncountable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɡənˌpaʊdɝ// UK //ɡˈʌnpaʊdɐ// gun·pow·der
n. a dry powder that explodes when it is lit. It is used in things like fireworks and bullets.
n. an explosive mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal. Historically significant as the first chemical explosive used in firearms and artillery.
The ancient recipe for gunpowder changed the history of war.
The fireworks display relies on carefully measured amounts of gunpowder to launch the shells high into the night sky.
The invention of gunpowder in China eventually transformed global military strategy, rendering traditional stone fortifications vulnerable to the sustained power of heavy artillery.
From gun + powder.
Possibly due to its smell resembling gunpowder during the British Raj.