Obs. [f. Gr. εὐ- (see EU-) + πυρεῖον firestick, f. πῦρ fire.] The name given by the inventor to a contrivance for obtaining a light instantaneously; see quot. 1827. Also fig.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., i. 22. Hertner’s Eupyrion…. It consists of a very small bottle half filled with asbestus … moistened with very concentrated sulphuric acid…. The matches are small slips of wood tipped with sulphur … dipped … into a mixture … of chlorate of potash, and … starch or sugar. Ibid. An eupyrion should always be conveniently placed in the laboratory.
1827. Hood, Bianca’s Dream, i. Each eye of hers had Love’s Eupyrion in it, That he could light his link at in a minute.
