a highly flammable material or preparation formerly used for catching the spark from a flint and steel struck together for fire or light.
2.
any dry substance that readily takes fire from a spark.
Origin: bef. 900; ME; OE tynder; akin to G Zunder, ON tundr, OE -tendan (as in ātendan to set on fire), Goth tundnan to catch fire, G -zünden in entzünden to kindle