| Barrage |
A rapid fire, successive pyrotechnic effect. |
| Bee Effect |
A visual effect appearing as if the color stars are very actively "swarming" around. |
| Bottle Rocket |
A small tube (generally no larger than 1/4 inch in diameter) attached to a thin bamboo stick that shoots an expelling combustion from one end that propels it into the air. The smallest rocket available. |
| Break |
The aerial burst of a shell that produces the color and other firework effects. |
| Bursting Charge |
The internal pyrotechnic load in a shell designed to break or burst the shell at a predetermined time and height, igniting and spreading the contents of the shell. |
| Cake |
A device that propels multiple, repetitive pyrotechnic charges into the air. The charges produce various colors, noises, and effects; some break into color bursts in the air and some display colors going up. These are among the most beautiful "show pieces" of the consumer fireworks, are also called "Large Night Displays" or "repeaters". |
| Chrysanthemum Effect |
The circular or round effect created when the stars of an aerial shell burst out from a center leaving trails or spokes. This is compared to the Peony effect of an aerial shell that does not produce trails as the shell bursts out. |
| Comet |
A star or fiery ball whose pyrotechnic performance starts from the point of launch on the ground as it is propelled upward. |
| Cone |
A cone or cone fountain is a fountain in a conical shape. Also see Fountain. |
| Crackle |
The audible effect of many small, sharp bangs or cracks. |
| Drizzle/Rain |
Glitter effect that simulates rain falling. Also the same as a shower effect. |
| Firecracker |
A small paper cylinder (usually no more than 1½" in length) containing pyrotechnic composition that produces a bang or report. Firecrackers generally are purchased by the roll, brick, or partial brick. Usually firecrackers today are strung together and fused consecutively. |
| Firework |
A device containing pyrotechnic composition that produces audible and visual effects through combustion. |
| Fish Effect |
Similar to a bee effect, except that the swarming stars expand rapidly outward. |
| Floral |
A shell that produces an aerial color break or burst. |
| Fountain |
A stationary, ground device from which a shower of sparks erupts upward from the device into a spring or fountain like effect. The fountains may vary in color of sparks, noise, and effects. |
| Glitter |
A sparkling or multiple small flashing effect; much less distinct than a strobe. |
| Ground Spinner |
A small device that spins on the ground producing a color effect. Some may have other effects. |
| Lifting Charge |
The pyrotechnic load designed to lift the shell into the sky to the desired height for the break or burst to occur. |
| Missile |
A tube containing a propelling pyrotechnic charge with fins attached to one end. When ignited, the expelling combustion from the tube propels the missile into the air. Some missiles have colored stars, reports or whistles. |
| Morning Glory |
A sparkler variation of looser pyrotechnic composition in a thin paper tube attached to a wooden stick. Also known as a "flitter sparkler." |
| Mortar |
A tube loaded with a shell that is propelled from the tube into the air that produces a break with varying colors, effects and noises. |
| Palm Tree Effect |
A floral (aerial) pattern that forms in the shape of a palm tree. |
| Parachute |
An aerial tube device that propels a charge into the air that bursts or breaks with one or more parachutes that float to the ground. The parachutes may contain flares, firecrackers, reports, or other effects. |
| Party Popper |
A hand held device loaded with a cap that produces a small report and propels confetti or crepe streamers into the air. |
| Pearl |
Star that burns with a color as it is propelled into the air. |
| Peony Effect |
The round effect created when the stars of an aerial shell break or burst out from a center without leaving trails. This is compared to the Chrysanthemum effect of an aerial shell that does leave trails or spokes as it bursts out from a center to a round effect. |
| Plane/Helicopter |
A small device with wings that spins and rises into the air. |
| Punk |
A slow burning wick for lighting the fireworks. |
| Reloadable Shells |
A kit containing a mortar tube and 6 or more separate shells. The device is designed to fire one shell at a time. After a shell is fired, a new shell can be loaded, hence the name "reloadable." |
| Repeater |
See Cake. |
| Report |
The noise of the loud bang or boom produced by the firecracker or other pyrotechnic device. |
| Rocket |
A tube or cylinder, with a cone shaped front, containing a propelling pyrotechnic charge attached to a rigid, guiding stick. When ignited, the expelling combustion from the tube propels the tube and attached stick into the air. Some rockets are designed to produce some color, whistle, report, or other minor effect at the highest point of the flight path. |
| Roman Candle |
A narrow cardboard tube or cylinder that propels intermittent single flaming balls or stars 15 - 50 feet into the air. Colors, effects, and noise vary. |
| Shell |
A circular or cylindrical shaped paper casing propelled into the air from a mortar or tube that produces a burst or break with varying colors, effects, and noise. |
| Shot |
The pyrotechnic performance of a single tube; the propelling of a shell into the air, that then bursts or breaks into a visual and/or audible effect. The launch can be individual or with others as a flight. |
| Snakes |
A pellet that when lit produces an ash in a long, snake like effect. These are the items that leave dark spots on the driveway. |
| Snaps |
Also called "snappers" and "fun snaps." Small pellets are thrown on a hard surface producing a cap like popping report. |
| Sparkler |
A wire (sometimes wooden) stick coated with pyrotechnic composition that burns down from the top emitting showers of small sparks. |
| Star |
A pellet or small ball of flame. |
| Strobe |
A sharp pulsing, flashing visual effect; mostly white or silver. |
| Tube |
A cylinder pre loaded with a pyrotechnic charge that propels a shell into the air that breaks into a color effect. Tubes can be loaded with multiple charges with varying visual and audible effects. |
| Wheel |
A device attached to a pole or tree with a nail that propels itself via small jets in a circular motion. Colors, effects and noise vary. |
| Whistle |
A mild high pitched, shrieking noise. |
| Willow Effect |
The effect created when the stars of an aerial burst burn longer, producing the graceful, drooping form of weeping willow branches. |
