noun
sulfur-tipped wooden match; spill
A thin strip of wood coated with sulfur, used historically to transfer flame; similar to a match but without a striking surface.
昔の人は火をおこすのに付け木を使った。
People in the past used sulfur-tipped spills to start fires.
Modern friction match; 付け木 is an older sulfur-tipped spill that requires an existing flame.
Compound of 付け (tsuke, 'attaching' or 'applying') + 木 (ki, 'wood'), referring to a wooden stick used to transfer fire.