Fuse is a device used to cause—or delay—an explosion. There are two general types, safety fuse and detonating fuse. The safety fuse allows the person setting off the explosion to reach safety before the blast occurs. A safety fuse is a cord made of black powder enclosed in jute, cotton yarns, and waterproofing materials. When lit, the black powder burns slowly until the flame reaches the explosive. The flame sets off a blasting cap attached to the fuse.
A detonating fuse, also called a detonating cord, has a core of high explosive that fires almost instantly over its length. It is used to set off dynamite in quarry blasting, to separate the stages of a rocket, and to release the cargo in space vehicles. It also helps pilots parachute from airplanes in emergencies. A blasting cap is used to explode this fuse. In military use, the word is usually spelled fuze and refers to a mechanical device for triggering an explosion by means of electricity, impact, or pressure.
