Noun
The vent of a cannot or other firearm, by which fire is communicateed to the powder of the charge.
Source: Webster's dictionaryAnother major change at this time was the development of a flintlock firing mechanism for the cannons to replace the old method of igniting powder in the cannon touchhole. Source: Internet
When the cannon was fired through the touchhole, turbulence from the initial surface combustion caused the rest of the powder to be rapidly exposed to the flame. Source: Internet