ARSON, ARSONIST
NOUNS
► RED-COCK incendiary fire → 1815 Sc.
► TORCH JOB an act of arson → 1930 US sl.
NOUNS – PERSON
► ACCELERATOR an arsonist → 20C US criminals’ sl.
► BLUE CAT a person suspected of being an incendiary → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► BOUTEFEU an incendiary; one who ‘adds fuel to fire’ → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► FIRE-BUG an incendiary → 1869 colloq., orig. US
► MAKE-FIRE an incendiary → 1560 obs.
► PYRO a pyromaniac → 1977 sl.
► SPARK an arsonist on the payroll of a criminal gang → 1992 US criminals’ sl. (Bk.)
► TORCH an arsonist → 1938 US sl.
VERBS
► TORCH to commit arson; to deliberately set fire to something, esp. in order to claim insurance money → 1931 sl., orig. US
Lexicophilia 