boutefeut (botfe)

[F., a forked match holder, formerly used for firing cannon, Animated by a base fellow called John à Chamber, a very boutefeu , who bore much sway among the vulgar, they entered into open rebellion. Bacon , Hist. Hen. VII. But the hardine of Stuart's opinions, his personal attacks, and the acrimony of his literary libels, presented a new feature in Scottish literature, of such ugline and horror, that every honourable man soon averted his face from this boutefeu . 1. D'Israeli , Calam. of Auth., p. 202. bouterollet, n. Same as boterol .