comb n A number of sulphur-tipped matches fastened together in a comb-like arrangement; also attrib.
   1870 HOWLEY MS Reminiscences 19 I had in my pocket some of those old fashioned comb matches with plenty of brimstone on them. 1906 Nfld Qtly Dec, p. 3 I remember the days of the flint and steel and the 'tinder box,' made of a cow's horn. I remember when lucifer matches were first introduced and were made in single stems (the 'comb' is quite a modern invention) and sold in little cylindrical wooden boxes. P 102-60 Every fisherman received ... a few pounds of Home Rule Tobacco ... not forgetting the brimstone tipped matches in combs, about one dozen combs to the package folded in tissue paper, made by the Horwood Lumber Co. T 80/2-64 A comb would be twelve matches, and there was a bunch, see, would be twelve—a lot of matches, gross, 144 matches. T 147--65 I don't know whether you seen any o' those comb matches wi' the brimstone on 'em—stink like the devil. 1978 Evening Telegram 9 Sep, p. 14 They weren't sold as a package at all, you'd ask for a comb of stinkers.

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