The Collaborative International Dictionary
Touchwood \Touch"wood`\, n. [Probably for tachwood; OE. tache tinder (of uncertain origin) + wood.]
Wood so decayed as to serve for tinder; spunk, or punk.
Dried fungi used as tinder; especially, the Polyporus igniarius.
Agaric \Ag"a*ric\ (?; 277), n. [L. agaricum, Gr. ?, said to be fr. Agara, a town in Sarmatia.]
(Bot.) A fungus of the genus Agaricus, of many species, of which the common mushroom is an example.
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An old name for several species of Polyporus, corky fungi growing on decaying wood.
Note: The ``female agaric'' ( Polyporus officinalis) was renowned as a cathartic; the ``male agaric'' ( Polyporus igniarius) is used for preparing touchwood, called punk or German tinder.
Agaric mineral, a light, chalky deposit of carbonate of lime, sometimes called rock milk, formed in caverns or fissures of limestone.