Described in 9th-century texts and used in fireworks in China by the 10th century, it was used in cannons by 1290.
dᵻskɹˈaɪbd ɪn nˈaɪnθsˈɛntʃɚɹi tˈɛksts ænd jˈuːzd ɪn fˈaɪɚwɜːks ɪn tʃˈaɪnə baɪ ðə tˈɛnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi, ɪt wʌz jˈuːzd ɪn kˈænənz baɪ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd tˈuːhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti.