Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MATCH, n.¹ [Fr. meche; It. miccia; Sp. and Port. mecha; Arm. mechenn, mech.]

1. Some very combustible substance used for catching fire from a spark, as hemp, flax, cotton, tow dipped in sulphur, or a species of dry wood, called vulgarly touchwood.
2. A rope or cord made of hempen tow, composed of three strands slightly twisted, and again covered with tow and boiled in the lees of old wine. This when lighted at one end, retains fire and burns slowly till consumed. It is used in firing artillery, &c. Encyc.