The use of military fireworks in elaborate celebrations of war and peace is an ancient Chinese custom, but our term for the making and launching of fireworks is a product of the 17th and 18th centuries. Pyrotechnics and the earlier adjective pyrotechnic derive via French from the Greek nouns pyr ("fire") and techne ("art"). In pyr one can see such fiery relatives as pyromania, the term for an irresistible impulse to start fires, as well as pyrite, the mineral also known as fool's gold. (That word also has an obsolete meaning, in the form pyrites, referring to a stone used for striking fire.) Like fireworks, pyrotechnics also has an extended figurative usage, referring to any kind of dazzling display or performance.
Recent Examples on the WebBurners, as attendees are known, will gather over the next week, creating a temporary society of towering sculptures, pyrotechnics, Mad Max-esque car cruises, artist performances and general debauchery, known as Black Rock City. Gerry Díaz, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Aug. 2022 Great White were just seconds into their opening song at the Station nightclub when their pyrotechnics ignited acoustic foam near at the stage. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2021 After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic limiting in-person celebrations, fireworks are returning to the Inner Harbor for the Fourth of July, and this year there will be some extra sparks to go along with the pyrotechnics. Micha Green, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2022 Sydney opened the global celebration in vintage style, with its usual spectacular pyrotechnics reflected in the harbour below the Sydney Opera House. Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 31 Dec. 2021 In videos posted to social media, Scott can be seen jumping around onstage as pyrotechnics flare behind him and fans sing along. Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 24 July 2022 In addition to watching jets soaring in formation, attendees can see a jet truck race a plane down the runway, hear narration with music and feel the heat from pyrotechnics. Marc Bona, cleveland, 21 July 2022 And of course the game-changing performance flash and pyrotechnics. Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 4 July 2022 Americans honor their freedom with patriotism and pyrotechnics. Carter Evans, CBS News, 4 July 2022 See More