matchlock fuse; slow-burning cord
A slow-burning cord historically used to ignite matchlock firearms. Now mostly encountered in historical contexts or in the compound 火縄銃 (matchlock gun).
A matchlock gun is used by lighting the matchcord.
A native compound of 火 “fire” and 縄 “cord,” referring to a slow-burning ignition cord; 縄 retains the reading なわ.