matchstick

noun

match·​stick ˈmach-ˌstik 

1

: a slender piece especially of wood from which a match is made

2

: something resembling a matchstick especially in slenderness

cut a carrot into matchsticks

Examples of matchstick in a Sentence

Cut the peppers into pieces the size of matchsticks.

Recent Examples on the Web

His big-screen résumé also included Lovely but Deadly (1981), Family Reunion (1989), Vampire Assassin (2005) and Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance (2015), where his character is also fond of a matchstick in his mouth (though here, they are colored to match his suits). —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025

The world record engine measures over 20 feet long, 9 feet high and 13 feet wide, and was built with more than 1 million matchsticks and 35 gallons of wood glue. —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2025

In the fires, palms went up with a whoosh, like matchsticks in hell. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025

Hundred-year-old pine branches snapping off like matchsticks. —Josh Eells, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for matchstick

• broomstick
• dipstick
• homesick
• joystick
• lipstick
• nonstick
• pickwick
• picnic
• redbrick
• seasick
• sidekick
• slapstick