Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Nitroglycerin \Ni`tro*glyc"er*in\, n. [Nitro- + glycerinn.]
   (Chem.)
   A liquid appearing like a heavy oil, colorless or yellowish,
   and consisting of a mixture of several glycerin salts of
   nitric acid, and hence more properly called {glycerin
   nitrate}. It is made by the action of nitric acid on glycerin
   in the presence of sulphuric acid. It is extremely unstable
   and terribly explosive. A very dilute solution is used in
   medicine as a neurotic under the name of {glonion}. [Written
   also {nitroglycerine}.]

   Note: A great number of explosive compounds have been
         produced by mixing nitroglycerin with different
         substances; as, dynamite, or giant powder,
         nitroglycerin mixed with siliceous earth;
         lithofracteur, nitroglycerin with gunpowder, or with
         sawdust and nitrate of sodium or barium; Colonia
         powder, gunpowder with nitroglycerin; dualin,
         nitroglycerin with sawdust, or with sawdust and nitrate
         of potassium and some other substances; lignose, wood
         fiber and nitroglycerin.