ɪt bɪɡˈæn æz ɐ smˈɔːl pˌaɪɹoʊtˈɛknɪk dɪvˈaɪs ɐtˈætʃt tʊ ɐ pˈoʊlɑːɹm wˈɛpən, jˈuːzd tə ɡˈeɪn ɐ ʃˈɑːk ɐdvˈæntɪdʒ æt ðə stˈɑːɹt əvə mˈeɪleɪ.
It began as a small pyrotechnic device attached to a polearm weapon, used to gain a shock advantage at the start of a melee.