Obs. Gunpowder that has been ‘corned’ or granulated.
1560. Whitehorne, Ord. Souldiours (1573), 41 a. Puting in the mouthes of the holes … a litle fine corne pouder.
1581. Styward, Mart. Discipl., I. 12. Bullets, Chaineshot, Crosbarres, Corne-powder, Serpentine powder.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., xiv. 71. That [powder] for small Ordnance is called corne Powder fine.
1711. Mil. & Sea Dict. (ed. 4), s.v. Powder, There are two sorts of it; the one call’d Serpentine, which is in Dust without corning, the other Corn-Powder.
1799. G. Smith, Labor., I. 10. Corn powder is whole gunpowder.
