flash-bang n. an explosive device that emits noise and light but is not intended to cause damage. Editorial Note: Flash-bang grenade is the full, more common, form. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
In 1971, when a new public library opened in Troy, Michigan, famous authors and artists were invited to write letters to the city’s youngest readers, extolling the many benefits of libraries. One of the loveliest was from E.B. White, author of...
Cat hair may be something you brush off, but cat hair is also a slang term that means “money.” In the same way, cat beer isn’t alcoholic — some people use cat beer as a joking term for “milk.” And imagine walking on a...
Tom Clancy uses this word alot in his earlier books.
Also a commonly used term in theatrical and film special effects.