- For information regarding Mozilla's Tinderbox, see Tinderbox (software).
Historically, a tinderbox is a small container containing flint, steel, and dry, finely-divided fibrous matter (such as straw), used together to help kindle a fire. Tinderboxes fell out of general usage when matches were invented.
In conventional usage, the term tinderbox refers to something that is so dry that it could catch on fire with the slightest provocation, perhaps even spontaneously. The term is often used metaphorically.
The Tinder Box is a name used by a chain of franchised tobacco stores in the United States. The chains was founded with one store opened in Santa Monica, California in 1928, a store still owned by its original proprietor. The franchise is no longer connected to that founding store, but it has dozens of stores in 24 states. See also: History of Santa Monica, California#1920s
Last updated: 08-20-2005 02:02:16
