a pointed forked staff, shod with iron at the foot, to hold a
lighted match for firing cannon. written also lintstock

Praticamente è un bastone o una sbarra con una biforcazione in punta per sorreggere la torcia e dall'altra c'è l'impugnatura. Serviva per dare fuoco alle micce dei cannoni (senza avvicinarsi troppo!).

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Note added at 14 hrs (2006-12-15 08:07:58 GMT)
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adesso guardo se riesco a trovare una traduzione migliore

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Note added at 14 hrs (2006-12-15 08:09:35 GMT)
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da William Falconer's dictionary: LINTSTOCK, (baton à meche, or boute-feu, Fr.) a staff about three feet long, having a sharp point at one end, and a sort of fork or crotch on the other; the latter of which serves to contain a lighted match, and by the former the lintstock is occasionally stuck in the deck, in an upright po sition. It is frequently used in small vessels, in an engagement, where there is commonly one fixed between every two guns, by which the match is always kept dry and ready for firing.

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Note added at 14 hrs (2006-12-15 08:16:24 GMT)
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Linstock \Lin"stock\ (l[i^]n"st[o^]k), n. [Corrupt. fr.
luntstock, D. lontstok; lont lunt + stok stock, stick. See
Link a torch, Lunt, and Stock.]
A pointed forked staff, shod with iron at the foot, to hold a
lighted match for firing cannon. [Written also lintstock.]
[1913 Webster]

allora LUNT (da cui deriva Lint essendo un termine danese)= stoppino; Stock = ceppo, tronco, barra (per esempio nelle fucine)
quindi direi che torcia potrebbe andare, anche da noi le torce sono dei bastoni con un capo infuocato (pensa a quando si accendevano i lampioni per le strade...)

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Note added at 14 hrs (2006-12-15 08:17:40 GMT)
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Stock \Stock\ (st[o^]k), n. [AS. stocc a stock, trunk, stick;
akin to D. stok, G. stock, OHG. stoc, Icel. stokkr, Sw.
stock, Dan. stok, and AS. stycce a piece; cf. Skr. tuj to
urge, thrust. Cf. Stokker, Stucco, and Tuck a rapier.]
1. The stem, or main body, of a tree or plant; the fixed,
strong, firm part; the trunk.
[1913 Webster]

Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and
the stock thereof die in the ground, yet through the
scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs
like a plant. --Job xiv.
8,9.
[1913 Webster]

2. The stem or branch in which a graft is inserted.
[1913 Webster]

The scion overruleth the stock quite. --Bacon.
[1913 Webster]

3. A block of wood; something fixed and solid; a pillar; a
firm support; a post.
[1913 Webster]