Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Atlas powder \At"las pow"der\
   A blasting powder or dynamite composed of nitroglycerin, wood
   fiber, sodium nitrate, and magnesium carbonate.

Powder \Pow"der\, n. [OE. poudre, pouldre, F. poudre, OF. also
   poldre, puldre, L. pulvis, pulveris: cf. pollen fine flour,
   mill dust, E. pollen. Cf. {Polverine}, {Pulverize}.]
   1. The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced
      by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or into which it
      falls by decay; dust.

            Grind their bones to powder small.    --Shak.

   2. An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.;
      gunpowder. See {Gunpowder}.

   {Atlas powder}, {Baking powder}, etc. See under {Atlas},
      {Baking}, etc.

   {Powder down} (Zo["o]l.), the peculiar dust, or exfoliation,
      of powder-down feathers.

   {Powder-down feather} (Zo["o]l.), one of a peculiar kind of
      modified feathers which sometimes form patches on certain
      parts of some birds. They have a greasy texture and a
      scaly exfoliation.

   {Powder-down patch} (Zo["o]l.), a tuft or patch of
      powder-down feathers.

   {Powder hose}, a tube of strong linen, about an inch in
      diameter, filled with powder and used in firing mines.
      --Farrow.

   {Powder hoy} (Naut.), a vessel specially fitted to carry
      powder for the supply of war ships. They are usually
      painted red and carry a red flag.

   {Powder magazine}, or {Powder room}. See {Magazine}, 2.

   {Powder mine}, a mine exploded by gunpowder. See {Mine}.

   {Powder monkey} (Naut.), a boy formerly employed on war
      vessels to carry powder; a powder boy.

   {Powder post}. See {Dry rot}, under {Dry}.

   {Powder puff}. See {Puff}, n.

Atlas \At"las\, n.; pl. {Atlases}. [L. Atlas, -antis, Gr. ?, ?,
   one of the older family of gods, who bears up the pillars of
   heaven; also Mt. Atlas, in W. Africa, regarded as the pillar
   of heaven. It is from the root of ? to bear. See {Tolerate}.]
   1. One who sustains a great burden.

   2. (Anat.) The first vertebra of the neck, articulating
      immediately with the skull, thus sustaining the globe of
      the head, whence the name.

   3. A collection of maps in a volume;

   Note: supposed to be so called from a picture of Atlas
         supporting the world, prefixed to some collections.
         This name is said to have been first used by Mercator,
         the celebrated geographer, in the 16th century.

   4. A volume of plates illustrating any subject.

   5. A work in which subjects are exhibited in a tabular from
      or arrangement; as, an historical atlas.

   6. A large, square folio, resembling a volume of maps; --
      called also {atlas folio}.

   7. A drawing paper of large size. See under {Paper}, n.

   {Atlas powder}, a nitroglycerin blasting compound of pasty
      consistency and great explosive power.