delayed actionn.
/dᵻˌleɪd ˈakʃn/, U.S. /dəˌleɪd ˈækʃən/, /diˌleɪd ˈækʃən/ An action that is delayed, esp. for a particular purpose. Frequently as a modifier, designating a device that acts after a period of time has elapsed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > [adjective] > delay action
delayed action1836
delay action1879
1836 Dublin Jrnl. Med. & Chem. Sci. 8 338 If action on the skin be at any time necessary, the more sudden the means by which it is produced the better; the delayed action of a blister is an insuperable objection to it.
1863 Retrospect of Med. 1862 46 365 That there is a delayed action of the opium..is proved by the summary of Dr. Chistison's experience as to the effects of opium.
1936 F. J. Mortimer Wall's Dict. Photogr. (ed. 14) 175 Many shutters on modern cameras..are now made with a ‘delayed action’ adjustment.
1958 Listener 20 Nov. 812/1 The electoral delayed action of those events as it works itself out will be even more difficult to detect and disentangle.
1967 Gloss. Sanitation Terms (B.S.I.) 59 Delayed action ballvalve... The opening of the ballvalve is delayed until the water level in the cistern has fallen through a fixed distance.
2018 Independent (Nexis) 12 Apr. There were plants which could cause severe vomiting followed by delayed-action poisoning such as alkaloid Colchicine.
Compounds
delayed action bomb n. an aerial bomb designed to detonate a certain amount of time after it lands.
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1918 W. B. Thomas in Daily Mail 20 Nov. 3/7 Two hundred citizens were in hospital, victims of the explosion of a huge ammunition train and dump—it was said, through a delayed-action bomb.
2015 K. Freeman Civilian Bomb Disposing Earl i. 22 That few hundred yards separated them from certain death if a delayed action bomb still possessed an active fuse.
delayed action fuse n. a fuse (fuse n.2 1a) designed to delay the detonation of a shell or aerial bomb until some time after it lands.
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1877 Times 14 Aug. 8/6 The delayed action fuse, which burns a certain regulated length of prima before it ignites the bursting charge, will allow the shell to swing itself in the earthworks or penetrate to the trench behind before the explosion.
2013 B. Gamble Fortress Rabaul ii. 19 After using instantaneous fuses for only a few anti-shipping strikes, Walker reverted to using delayed-action fuses for subsequent missions.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1836