fire swab

English

Noun

fire swab (plural fire swabs)

1. A water-soaked swab for cooling a gun in action and clearing away particles of powder, etc.
   • 1901, The Australasian Pastoralists' Review:

     each warden should have ready for emergencies a sufficient supply of fire swabs or beaters, fire torches, and water carts

References

“fire”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.