请输入您要查询的英文单词：

　

单词 fire
释义

firen.int.

Brit. /ˈfʌɪə/, U.S. /ˈfaɪ(ə)r/
Forms: Old English (rare)–Middle English fer, Old English (rare)–Middle English fir, Old English (Northumbrian)–Middle English fyrr, Old English–1600s fyr, Old English (rare)–1600s fyre, late Old English firre (Kentish, dative), late Old English (Kentish)–Middle English fur, late Old English (Kentish)–1600s fier, late Old English (Kentish)–1600s fyer, early Middle English fares (genitive, transmission error), early Middle English fær, early Middle English feor, early Middle English ueree (south-eastern, dative), Middle English fair (northern), Middle English feer, Middle English feiȝr, Middle English feir, Middle English feore, Middle English fere, Middle English ferr, Middle English feure, Middle English feyer, Middle English feyȝr, Middle English feyir, Middle English feyr, Middle English ffer, Middle English ffir, Middle English ffyr, Middle English fierr, Middle English fiȝr, Middle English fiir, Middle English fijr, Middle English fijre, Middle English fiyr, Middle English fouyre (north-west midlands), Middle English foyre (north-west midlands), Middle English fuir, Middle English fuire, Middle English fure, Middle English fuyer, Middle English fuyr, Middle English fuyre, Middle English fyeer, Middle English fyerr, Middle English fyȝer, Middle English fyȝre, Middle English fyier, Middle English fyir, Middle English fyire, Middle English fyrre, Middle English fyyr, Middle English uer, Middle English uere, Middle English uur, Middle English veer, Middle English veir, Middle English ver, Middle English vere, Middle English vir, Middle English vire, Middle English vur, Middle English vure, Middle English vuyr, Middle English vyre, Middle English–1500s feere, Middle English–1600s feyre, Middle English–1600s ffyer, Middle English–1600s ffyre, Middle English–1600s fiere, Middle English–1600s fyere, Middle English– fire, 1500s fieare, 1500s fyar, 1500s fyare, 1500s veyre, 1600s ffire; English regional 1700s– vire (south-western), 1800s feigher (Lancashire), 1800s– foire (Yorkshire), 1800s– foyer (Lancashire), 1800s– vier (south-western); U.S. regional 1900s– fahr, 1900s– far, 1900s– farr, 1900s– fiah, 1900s– fieh, 1900s– fiuh, 1900s– foir, 1900s– for; Scottish pre-1700 faire, pre-1700 fayer, pre-1700 fayr, pre-1700 ffyir, pre-1700 fier, pre-1700 fiire, pre-1700 fir, pre-1700 fiyr, pre-1700 fvr, pre-1700 fyer, pre-1700 fyir, pre-1700 fyire, pre-1700 fyr, pre-1700 fyre, pre-1700 fyrr, pre-1700 fyrre, pre-1700 1700s– fire, 1800s feyre; Irish English (Wexford) 1700s vier, 1800s vire.
Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian fiūr , fiōr (West Frisian fjoer ), Old Dutch fuir (Middle Dutch vier , vuer , Dutch vuur ), Old Saxon fiur (Middle Low German vǖr , vǖer ), Old High German fiur , (older) fuir (Middle High German viur , German Feuer ), also Old Icelandic (poetic and rare) fýr , fúrr , fýrir fire, Norwegian regional †fur spark, and further with Old Icelandic funi flame, Gothic fun- , fon fire, all ultimately < the same Indo-European base as Hittite paḫḫuen- , paḫḫur , ancient Greek πῦρ , Umbrian pir , Armenian hur , all in sense ‘fire’. (Old Swedish fyr- (in compounds; Swedish fyr ) and Danish fyr fire, lighthouse, beacon, are later borrowings from Middle Low German. The usual word for ‘fire’ in North Germanic is represented by Old Icelandic eldr and its cognates: see eld n.1)Indo-European and Germanic inflection. The Indo-European base is one of a small class of neuter nouns which apparently originally had stem-final -r in the nominative and accusative singular and -n in other cases (compare water n.). The distribution apparently only survives in Anatolian, while most other language groups tend to show innovation, especially levelling of the r . In Germanic the forms were completely remodelled. In Gothic the n of the oblique stem was levelled throughout the paradigm and the word partly assimilated to the n -stem declension, whereas in the other Germanic languages the r was levelled. In West Germanic the word was remodelled as a neuter a -stem, and in North Germanic (in so far as the inherited base is attested) apparently as both a neuter and masculine a -stem and a masculine ja -stem (in addition, a weak (n -stem) by-form is also attested showing levelling of n ). The phonological development is complex and difficult to reconstruct. See discussion in D. Ringe From Proto-Indo-European to Proto-Germanic (2006) 276–7. Old English inflection. In Old English (as in other West Germanic languages) a neuter a -stem; occasional forms with masculine agreement are attested in late Old English. The stem vowel ȳ apparently reflects West Germanic (disyllabic) ui (compare Old High German fuïr , earliest as vugir , and see D. Ringe & A. Taylor Devel. Old Eng. (2014) 225). Notes on senses. Frequently used to translate the unrelated Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French feu (see feuage n.), which has a similar semantic range. With fire of joy at sense A. 3a compare Middle French, French feu de joie bonfire (first half of the 15th cent.: see feu de joie n.). With reference to fireworks used for display (see sense A. 10a) compare Middle French, French feu d'artifice (1594: see feu d'artifice n.), which is distinct in sense from the military artificial fire at sense A. 10a(a). Pronunciation. In poetry sometimes pronounced as two syllables.
A. n.
I. In literal use.
1.
a. The physical manifestation of combustion, characterized by flames and the production of (intense) heat, light, and (typically) smoke, and caused by the ignition and burning of flammable material; the process of burning and its manifestation considered together.Fire has long been used and valued by humanity as a source of heat and light (cf. sense A. 2), and recognized as a dangerous and destructive phenomenon (cf. sense A. 4); it is also sometimes regarded as a divine or supernatural manifestation (cf. sense A. 6).
ΚΠ
OE Maxims I 71 Forst sceal freosan, fyr wudu meltan.
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxii. 360 Fyres gecynd is þæt hit fornymð swa hwæt swa him gehende bið.
OE Homily: Hist. Holy Rood-tree (Corpus Cambr. 557) in Medium Ævum (1940) 9 84 Asprang þær fyr on ðreo halfe ðæs treowes & forbærnde s[ixtig] manna.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 17414 He swallt þurrh firess wunde.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 119 (MED) Fir haueð on him þre mihtes, on to giuende hete, oðer to giuende liht, þridde to weldende elet to none þinge.
c1350 Ayenbite (1866) App. 265 Þer me geþ uram chele in to greate hete of uere.
a1425 (?c1400) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 102 (MED) Þanne maist þou wiþ tendre gete fuyre of þat ston.
1447 O. Bokenham Lives of Saints (Arun.) (1938) l. 699 The feer wych owt dede renne From his [sc. the dragon's] mouth.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Biv Which from the gyrdell downwarde was al lyke fyer.
1560 Bible (Geneva) Job xli. 10 Out of his mouth go lampes, and sparkes of fyre leape out.
1665 J. Phillips tr. P. Scarron Typhon ii. 37 In this their dreadful ire They'd synge my wings with flames of fire..What with smoak of fire, and noise, I hardly saw, or heard I voice But what was most confus'd.
1710 Visions Sir H. Ryley 30 Aug. 18/1 He held in his Left Hand a Blazing Torch; as he moved it, Flames of Fire seemed to fly about him, clouded with Smoak.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. lxxi. 802 Fire is the most powerful agent of life and death.
1837 J. H. Newman Parochial Serm. (1839) I. i. 9 Fire does not inflame iron, but it inflames straw.
1883 Jrnl. Soc. Arts 9 Mar. 381/1 Combustion, or fire, may be defined as the chemical combination of bodies with oxygen gas, attended by light and heat.
1954 W. Golding Lord of Flies 44 A flash of fire appeared..and then the smoke thickened. Small flames stirred at the trunk of a tree.
1979 D. Attenborough Life on Earth (1981) xiii. 300 Blackened stones show that they had control of fire and they must have treasured it, for it gave them desperately needed warmth in winter and enabled them to cook meat.
2001 A. True Wildfire Introd. 3 In the hand of people and in wild nature, fire is a force that cleans and regenerates, enhances and destroys.
b.
(a) Fire as one of the four or more elements of ancient and medieval philosophy (cf. element n. 1a, 9) and astrology (cf. fire sign n. at Compounds 2a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > alchemy > alchemical elements > [noun] > fire
fireOE
OE Blickling Homilies 35 Ure lichoma wæs gesceapen of feower gesceaftum, of eorþan, & of fyre, & of wætere, & of lyfte.
OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) iv. i. 200 [Sunt quattuor] aelementa: aer, ignis, aqua, terra : gesceaft lyft fyr wæter eorðe.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 11503 Forr manness bodiȝ feȝedd iss..Off heoffness fir. & off þe lifft. Off waterr. & off eorþe.
c1300 St. Michael (Harl.) in T. Wright Pop. Treat. Sci. (1841) 134 Bynethe the loweste hevene..Beoth the four elementz..; Next the mone the fur is hext.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 429 The fyr of his condicion Appropreth the complexion Which in a man is Colre hote.
a1400 in J. Evans Magical Jewels Middle Ages & Renaissance (1922) 81 (MED) God mad al mankynde that lyves on this erthe Of foure elementis..Of fyr & water & aer & erth That gendris in us foure humerez.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 237 (MED) iiije elementes bene in the worlde, Wherof euery corruptabill thynge is makyd; that Is to witte, Erthe, Watyr, Eeyre, and fyre.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. ii. 33 Th' Elements, twin-twins (two Sons, two Daughters) To wit, the Fire, the Aire, the Earth, and Waters.
1693 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Metamorphoses i, in Examen Poeticum 3 The force of Fire ascended first..Then Air succeeds.
1756 J. Dove Ess. on Inspiration 117 Besides earth, water, air, and fire..I know not any thing: what then is this fifth substance? It is..the æther.
1788 J. Wesley Serm. Several Occasions V. 69 By his omnific word, light, that is, fire, the fourth element sprang into being.
1852 A. Jones Hist. Sketch Electric Telegr. p. vii The period of Paracelsus..when the one element was extended to four—water, air, earth, and fire.
1885 Trans. Asiatic Soc. Japan 1883–4 12 301 The body is composed of twenty kinds of earth, twelve kinds of water, six kinds of wind, and four kinds of fire.
1899 Washington Post 9 July 22/3 Persons born under the domains of Fire and Water should not marry.
1922 T. M. Lowry Inorg. Chem. iv. 45 In the alchemistic period, Aristotle's four elements, earth, air, fire, and water, were replaced by the three principles, mercury, sulphur, and salt.
1958 L. H. Sargent How to handle your Human Relations ii. 16 In astrology, temperament is described by the elements: the fire, earth, air, and water categories of the signs.
1972 M. Kline Math. Thought vii. 149 The Pythagoreans asserted that nature was composed of fournesses; for example, point, line, surface, and solid, and the four elements, earth, air, fire, and water.
2010 D. Macauley Elemental Philos. 3 The collective notion of the elements as earth, fire, air, and water is..perennial, pervasive, and commonplace to most cultures.
(b) The element fire considered as opposite, antagonistic, or counter to water or ice.
ΚΠ
1541 R. Whitford Dyuers Holy Instrucyons & Teachynges xvi. f. 33 And yet be fyre and water contrarye.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. iii. 55 Me thinkes King Richard and my selfe should meete With no lesse terrour than the elements Of fire and water, when their thundring shocke At meeting teares the cloudie cheekes of heauen. View more context for this quotation
1605 T. Tymme tr. J. Du Chesne Pract. Chymicall & Hermeticall Physicke ii. iii. sig. N Yée haue also seene in the aforesaide salt, a Hermaphroditicall Nature: Male and female: fixed and volatil.., hot and cold: fier and Ice.., vnited into one substance.
1680 B. Nanfan Ess. Divine & Moral 6 Good and evil, like fire and water, have repugnant qualities, will not body together, but like an Exhalation, break.
1708 tr. J. Ozanam Recreations Math. & Physical 501 Fire and Water are opposite Elements, mutually destroying one another.
1815 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg 12 Aug. 186 We might as soon reconcile the elements of fire and water, right and wrong, truth and falsehood, sincerity and hypocrisy.
1832 J. Richardson Wacousta III. viii. 194 Fire and ice are not more opposite than were the elements of which our natures were composed.
1914 Sci. Temperance Jrnl. Jan. 63/2 Sport and alcohol are two directly antagonistic elements like fire and water.
1998 D. B. Morris Illness & Culture i. 40 Disease and illness are not oppositions rooted in the nature of things, like fire and ice.
2007 K. C. Patton Sea can wash away Evils vi. 103 Like birthplace and graveyard, paradise and hell, creation and destruction, or eroticism and asceticism, fire and water are unyieldingly oppositional pairs.
2.
a. An instance of fire resulting from the controlled and tended burning of fuel and used as a source of heat, as in a fireplace, furnace, oven, etc., or outside in a camp, etc.; fuel in a state of combustion. Also figurative.Also with preceding word, specifying the fuel being burnt, as coal fire, peat fire, wood fire, etc., or the location of the fire, as camp fire, forge fire, home fire, etc.: see the first element. †to keep one's fire (in quot. c1500): to stay at home; cf. sense A. 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > a fire > [noun]
fireOE
heat1382
gleedc1400
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [noun]
bruneOE
fireOE
eldc1200
glimmer1567
Vulcan1595
fire king1796
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > a fire > [noun] > a kind of fire > a fire on a hearth
fireOE
branda1300
ingle?a1513
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabiting a type of place > inhabit type of place [verb (intransitive)] > inhabit house > remain indoors
firec1500
to keep one's (or the) house1542
to keep up1704
to settle in1817
OE tr. Alexander's Let. to Aristotle (1995) §16. 234 Þa ðær onældon þusend fyra & eac fif hund [L. mille D..ignes].
OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Corpus Oxf.) ii. x. 134 Þu æt swæsendum sitte mid þinum ealdormannum & þegnum on wintertide, & sie fyr onælæd [L. accenso..foco] & þin heall gewyrmed, & hit rine & sniwe & styrme ute.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 9286 Illc an treo..Shall..i þe fir beon worrpenn.
?a1200 (?OE) Peri Didaxeon (1896) 27 Wyrce hym arest hnesce bedd and macian [read maca] wearm fyr.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 600 He halde þa milc in þat fur.
c1300 Holy Cross (Laud) 373 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 12 Op one gredire he leide him sethþe ouer a gret fuyr and strong.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 2767 (MED) Þai fande lothe sytande bi þe fire.
c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 4930 Hij nymeþ þe fyssh and eteþ it þanne, Wiþouten fyre, wiþouten panne.
a1450 in T. Austin Two 15th-cent. Cookery-bks. (1888) 42 Do hem on a potte ouer þe fyre.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 264 To long he had kept his fyre.
?a1525 (?a1475) Play Sacrament l. 684 in N. Davis Non-Cycle Plays & Fragm. (1970) 79 To make an ovyn as redd hott As euer yt can be made with fere.
?a1562 G. Cavendish Life Wolsey (1959) 110 Goo down agayn And make a great fier in yor lodge ayenst I come to drye them.
1596 J. Harington New Disc. Aiax sig. H2 You may make a great fire of your gaines, and bee neuer the warmer.
1634 Proc. Star Chamber in S. R. Gardiner Documents Proc. against W. Prynne (1877) 24 He condempnes the booke to the fyer.
1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine ii. v. 133 The Hebrew name of Zarephah, signifieth a conflatory or melting place, where metals..were made fusil by the fire in their furnaces.
1717 G. Berkeley Jrnls. Trav. Italy 5 June in Wks. (1955) VII. 298 After several hours of windy rainy cold weather, forced to have a fire.
1786 J. Wedgwood in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 76 401 Enabling us to ascertain the degree of vitrescibility of bodies that cannot actually be vitrified by any fires which our furnaces are capable of producing.
1801 C. Smith Lett. Solitary Wanderer II. 168 The daughter of the poor man under whose roof she was made up a fire in the wretched room assigned to her.
1819 J. Macphail Gardener's Remembrancer (ed. 2) xvi. 122 The heat raised in a hot-house, from bricks or stone heated by fire is..salubrious to plants.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth ii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 48 A good fire, with the assistance of a blazing lamp, spread light and cheerfulness through the apartment.
1853 Southern Lit. Messenger Dec. 750/2 The fires in the furnaces were made to burn briskly by blowing through a bamboo tube.
1915 F. M. Hueffer Good Soldier iv. ii. 193 The fire beside her was burning brightly; she must have just put coals on.
1995 K. McCloud Techniques of Decorating (1998) 163/1 Saltglaze, slightly pitted glaze applied to stoneware by throwing salt on to the fire of the kiln in which the pots are being baked.
2011 W. Steavenson in M. McAllester Eating Mud Crabs in Kandahar iv. 161 He would..build a fire with dried vine cuttings..and roast skewers of roast pork.
†b. Hence: a domestic establishment; a household, a home. Cf. hearth n.1 2. Obsolete.Typically used when quantifying the number of households in a particular location.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > [noun] > home > hearth or fire symbolic of
fireeOE
astre?a1500
hearthsteada1500
reek1542
reek house1542
hearth1585
smoke1605
home fire1611
fireside1613
ingle-side?a1750
foyer1908
eOE Bede Glosses (Tiber. C.ii) in H. D. Meritt Old Eng. Glosses (1945) 13/1 Exuuias, proceres, moenia, [castra], lares..[Caedual] liquit [amore Dei] : wælreaf aldormen wallas fyr læfde.
1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Trauellers Breuiat 73 Ouer and aboue cities and villages, there are accounted 1433. parishes; in some of which a thousand people, or (as they terme it) a thousand housholds or fires [It. fochi] doe inhabite.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xviii. 63 A town of fifteen hundred fires.
1692 J. Dunton Young-students-libr. 84/2 This great Empire is so Peopled, that near 12 millions of Families or Fires are counted therein, without comprehending Priviledged Families or Persons.
1760 Mod. Part Universal Hist. XVII. vii. xv. 440 La Croix makes mention of Timesguit, as one of the chief places, situated on the confines of Gezula, and containing within its walls about three thousand fires, besides two hundred families inhabiting the suburbs.
1787 C. Cullen tr. F. S. Clavigero Hist. Mexico II. vii. 428 Of Iztapalapan, Cortes affirms, it had from twelve to fifteen thousand fires.
1821 T. Nuttall Jrnl. Trav. Arkansa 62 They [sc. the Arkansas Indians] informed me..that their company was about five or six families or fires.
c. A fire considered in terms of the intensity or degree of heat needed for preparing, making, or (in later use esp.) cooking something; the amount or level of heat produced by a fire.Frequently with modifying adjective, as low, gentle, moderate, etc.; see also slow adj. 6a, soft adj. 6. Cf. a soft fire makes sweet malt at Phrases 4f.
ΚΠ
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xix. lx. 1322 Þanne is ydo þerto pure hony..and is eft ysode on esy fuyre and softe, forto it be þikke.
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 175 (MED) Distil with softe fire..And after be þe fire doubled.
1527 L. Andrewe tr. H. Brunschwig Vertuose Boke Distyllacyon sig. Hiij The fyre must be very softe in the begynnyng.
1579 J. Frampton tr. B. de Escalante Disc. Nauigation x. f. 29 They make a great hearth, vpon the which they put a great number of egges, and vnderneath they make a soft, mild, and gentle fire, and so it continueth..vntill these broodes come foorth.
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique ii. xliii. 280 Melt the whole by little and little.., keeping a low fire without increasing of it.
1667 T. Sprat Hist. Royal-Soc. 273 Increase the Fire till your Liquor begin to boyle.
1741 tr. J. A. Cramer Elements Art of assaying Metals ii. xv. 249 Put the Crucible thus loaded into a wind-Furnace..and increase the Fire till the whole melts very thin: Which will be done by a middling Fire, maintained always equal.
1773 C. Mason Lady's Assistant 347 Set the preserving pan over a gentle fire.
1805 A. Duncan Edinb. New Dispensatory ix. 469 Dissolve the quicksilver with a moderate heat; then increase the fire until the matter be converted into red scales.
1845 E. Acton Mod. Cookery xx. 455 Weigh three pounds of good boiling apples..; let these stew over a gentle fire, until they form a perfectly smooth and dry marmalade.
1900 J. Ross Leaves from our Tuscan Kitchen 90 (heading) Spread the potatoes one-third of an inch deep in the pan, and cook slowly over a moderate fire for about a quarter of an hour.
1959 M. K. Khayat & M. C. Keatinge Food from Arab World (1965) 29 Simmer over a low fire until the sauce thickens.
2010 T. M. Henry Recipes & Mem. Creole Cook 23 Hold your sauce on a simmering fire while you..cook [the fish] on a medium fire.
d. A type of domestic heating appliance; spec. a gas or electric fire (gas fire n., electric fire n. 2).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming
fire engine1735
house-warmer1812
warmer1812
water wall1853
waterfront1867
fire1895
heater-
1895 Army & Navy Co-op. Soc. Price List 334 Ball Fire without Fender and Trivet, 15/9.
1939–40 Army & Navy Co-op. Soc. Price List 271 Well designed 2 kw. fire with hammered copper reflector.
1968 ‘J. le Carré’ Small Town in Germany v. 70 ‘Very gadget-minded, Mr Harting is... He had a tea machine.’..‘What else?’ ‘A fire. The new fan type with the two bars over.’
2010 S. Summers Broken to Beautiful xi. 93 Erin went through to the family room to turn the fire on.
3.
a. A large fire serving as a beacon or signal; esp. (in later use) one lit as a mark of celebration (also fire of joy; cf. feu de joie n. 1).Recorded earliest in compounds, as beacon fire, fire tower n. at Compounds 2a.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > buoys, marks, or lighthouses > [noun] > object on land or sea as guide > light beacon or lighthouse > fire in
fireeOE
society > leisure > social event > festive occasion > [noun] > bonfire as token of
bonfirea1450
fire of joy1554
feu de joie1609
tandle1788
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > a fire > [noun] > a kind of fire > immense > for celebration
fire of joy1554
feu de joie1609
tandle1788
bale-fire1810
joy-fire1845
eOE Bede Glosses (Tiber. C.ii) in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1917) 136 291 Farans [read farus] : bæcenfyr.
eOE Cleopatra Gloss. in J. J. Quinn Minor Lat.-Old Eng. Glossaries in MS Cotton Cleopatra A.III (Ph.D. diss., Stanford Univ.) (1956) 100 Farus, beacenstan, in promontoria rupis posita, .i. fyrtor.
1277 Patent Roll, 5 Edward I (P.R.O.: C 66/96) m. 17 Les..Bailifs as Barons des porz [sc. the Cinque Ports]..eyent les deus deners de Nefs costumers ke sunt apelez fire penyes a fius [= feux] sustenir en les lus acoustumez pur seurte de la Riuage.
1450–2 in 5th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS: Pt. 1 (1876) App. 520 in Parl. Papers (C. 1432) XL. 1 For a hundred of wood, had at the firehowse, to make wacche firys there 5d.
1554 J. Knox Admon. Faithful Christians sig. A.iv Fyers of ioye and ryotous bancketinges were made at the proclamation of Marye your Quene.
1589 Summarie Drakes W. Indian Voy. 48 The ninth of Iune vpon sight of one speciall great fire (which are verie ordinarie all alongst this coast, euen from the Cape Florida hither) the Generall sent his Skiffe to the shore, where they found some of our English countrey men.
1663 F. Philipps Antiq. Præ-emption & Pourveyance for King viii. 477 As necessary as for Seamen to pay a certain rate for lights or fires upon the Sea Coasts to prevent Shipwracks.
1670 J. Ogilby Africa 128 There is sometimes no more than one poor Moor, to kindle the Fire to be a Guide to Ships entring the Haven in dark Nights.
1711 London Gaz. No. 4893/3 The Fire [in a lighthouse] will be lighted..from the First Day of September.
1783 tr. P.-C. Levesque in Eng. Rev. Aug. 98 The Russians..light up the fires of joy and dance around them.
1813 W. Scott Rokeby v. xxxvii. 267 Where far the mansion of her sires Beaconed the dale with midnight fires.
1890 ‘Princess V. Zarovitch’ Mizora ii. vii. 273 We lighted a fire, but the blaze could not be seen far in such inky darkness. We hallooed, but received no answer.
1915 tr. Lieut.-Col. Kaden in Times 23 Mar. 9 This year fires of joy shall flare from the Bismarck columns throughout the length and breadth of Germany.
1977 Associated Press Newswire (Nexis) 6 June 103 bonfires in eight chains from Windsor..were lit consecutively as each preceding hilltop fire was sighted.
2005 Sun Herald (Sydney) (Nexis) 9 Oct. 16 An official line of 350 ‘fires of joy’, starting from Copenhagen and controlled by several thousand soldiers, will light up the entire nation on news of the royal birth.
2012 Leicester Mercury (Nexis) 6 June 3 Most of Leicestershire's fires were lit between 10pm and 10.15pm, before the Queen lit the national beacon outside Buckingham Palace.
b. A fire serving as a funeral pyre.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > cremation > [noun] > pile or pyre
adeOE
fireeOE
baleOE
pile1531
stacka1547
funeral pile1555
roge1559
fire pile1577
pyre1638
funeral pyre1658
death pile1791
eOE Cleopatra Gloss. in J. J. Quinn Minor Lat.-Old Eng. Glossaries in MS Cotton Cleopatra A.III (Ph.D. diss., Stanford Univ.) (1956) 135 Pyre bele id est fyr.
OE Aldhelm Glosses (Corpus Cambr. 326) in H. D. Meritt Old Eng. Glosses (1945) 1/2 Rogorum : fyra.
1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten Disc. Voy. E. & W. Indies i. xxxvii. 71/1 She leapeth into the fire, and is presently couered with wood and oyle: so she is quickly dead, & with her husbands bodie burned to ashes.
1665 T. Stanley tr. Ælian Various Hist. vii. xviii. 153 Amongst the Indians, the Wives resolutely goe into the same fire with their dead Husbands.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 33 Half mad she throws herself into the Fire, and they ready with great Logs keep her in his Funeral Pile.
1754 R. Dodsley Preceptor (ed. 2) I. iii. 264 The Corpse..is set upright, in a sort of a Couch.., and is followed by his Children, the eldest carrying a Torch to light the Fire.
1827 Kaleidoscope 29 May 382/3 In tropical climates..the sun scarcely ever sets before the body is consigned to the fire, the river, or the tomb.
1866 E. R. Sullivan Conquerors, Warriors, & Statesmen of India xx. 298 Nanna was consumed in the same fire with the body of her husband.
1956 Times of India 21 Feb. 1 The mortal remains of Acharya Narendra Deva were consigned to the fire.
2014 A. J. Frankel Indian Summer 169 When it got darker, cremations started on the ghats down the river, but I could not see them directly, only the eerie glow of their fires.
4. Uncontrolled, destructive, and frequently extensive burning, occurring from natural or accidental causes, or by wilful and malicious intent; an instance of this, a conflagration. See also iron and fire at iron n.1 2a, fire and the sword at Phrases 4h(a).bush fire, forest fire, house fire, wildfire, etc.: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > a fire > [noun] > a kind of fire > destructive
fireeOE
wildfirea1122
burningc1425
embrasement1483
combustion1611
scathefire1632
conflagration1656
empyrosisa1676
firestorm1836
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) v. iii. 117 Se dæl þe þær to lafe wearð forbær[n]don ealle þa burg, for ðon þe hie ne uþon þæt hiera fiend to hiera ealdgestreonum fengon; & æfter þæm hie hie selfe on þæm fyre forspildon.
OE tr. Medicina de Quadrupedibus (Vitell.) i. 236 Nim his [sc. badger's] lifre, todæl, & bedealf [read bedelf] æt þam ymbhwyrftum þinra landgemæra & þinra burhstaðola..; þonne þu & þine beoð alysde hale to feranne & ham to cyrrenne, eall wol byþ aweg astyred; & þæt ær gedon wæs naht sceþþeð; & byþ lytel frecne fram fyre.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1080 Humber king & al his fleote..fuhten wið his leoden. mid fure & mid here.
c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 140 Hit fareþ as a fuir of heth.
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. iv. l. 96 Fur on here houses.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 9v These offices (for feare of fyre) you see, are all seuered from the house.
c1600 Wriothesley's Chron. Eng. (1875) I. 5 A great fier at the ende of London Bridge.
1667 E. Waterhouse (title) A short narrative of the late dreadful fire in London.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis ii. in tr. Virgil Wks. 246 When a flood of Fire by Winds is born, Crackling it rowls, and mows the standing Corn.
1738 S. Johnson London 14 Now a rabble rages, now a fire.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Ode to Naples (1824) 148 The fields they tread look black and hoary With fire.
1856 Weekly Wisconsin (Milkwaukee) 11 June 1/6 The great fire of '49 which swept over so many acres of buildings.
1922 Atlanta Constit. 21 May 1 (caption) A radio alarm system will be installed on every building, which will automatically act at the start of a fire and give the alarm.
1992 K. A. Belliappa in J. Bourrinet Wildland Fires & Law ii. 110 Uncontrolled fire can ruin forests and destroy the work of generations.
2014 Telegraph (Nexis) 12 Sept. More than 50 rescue dogs were killed by a fire at Manchester Dogs' Home.
5. Fire as a refining or purifying agent, or as a means to ascertain the fineness or purity of a metal. Frequently in figurative contexts.
ΚΠ
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xl. 343 Gold and seolfor and deorwurðe stanas beoð on fyre afandode, ac hi ne beoð swa ðeah mid ðam fyre fornumene.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 210 Golt & seoluer clansið ham of hare dros iþe fur.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 106 Ine þise uyf maneres halȝeþ þe gost of wysdom, þe herte of man. Verst he his wypeþ, and clenseþ, ase deþ þet uer [þet] clenzeþ and fineþ þet gold.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. x. iv. 560 Fire purgiþ and clensiþ of syndir and rust and amendiþ metal þat he may nat waste.
a1400 Twelve Profits of Tribulation (Royal) in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1896) II. 49 Þo secunde maner of clensyngis thorou whilk metals are clensid, as gold with fire.
1485–6 W. Caxton tr. Laurent Ryal Bk. sig. pviiv Trybulacions purge the soule as the fyre purgeth golde in the fornays.
a1500 Twelve Profits of Tribulation (Rawl.) in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1896) II. 395 (MED) Fire departith gold from other mettallis, and purgith hym of ruste and fylth..Also Iron is purged bi the file of ruste.
1582 O. Pigg Comfortable Treat. First Epist. Peter sig. B.iiiiv As fire trieth the pure golde, from that which is counterfait and naught..so troubles and afflictions for Christes sake, doe discerne the faythfull Christian from the hypocrite.
1674 T. Jordan Goldsmiths Jubile 6 Finers melting, smelting, fining, and parting Gold and Silver, both by fire and water.
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 62 Separate the Gold by Fire from the Dross and Mixture.
1839 S. MacGill Serm. viii. 147 The fire purifies the gold, manifests the nature of the ore, and presents it in greater lustre.
1922 T. M. Lowry Inorg. Chem. v. 60 Metals are commonly divided into two groups, the noble metals, gold and silver, which may be melted in the fire but are not consumed or corroded thereby, and the base metals, which become tarnished, and finally burn away to an earthy product or dross.
1959 Somerset (Pa.) Daily Amer. 28 Mar. As fire refines gold, may our trials serve to purify our hearts.
2013 Herald (Harare) (Nexis) 2 Aug. People and nations only emerge stronger from challenges; gold is purified in fire.
6.
a. A fire, or the fires, conceived of as raging in hell or purgatory. Frequently considered as an embodiment or symbol of eternal punishment after death. Cf. fire and brimstone n. 1, hell-fire n. 1. near the fire: at risk of damnation; liable to go to hell (rare).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > alchemy > other alchemical substances or theories > [noun] > universal solvent
fireOE
philosophers' vinegar1612
alkahest1651
fire of Hell1658
firewater1664
philosophical vinegar1694
the world > the supernatural > deity > hell > [noun] > fire of
hell-fireeOE
fireOE
flamec1384
hell's kitchen1694
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > there is danger in a course of action [phrase] > in a dangerous situation
through fire (and water)eOE
waterOE
near the fire1560
between two fires1686
OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Mark ix. 44 Ubi..ignis non extinguitur : ðer..þæt fyr ne bið gedrysned.
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) i. 180 Se ælmihtiga scyppend..hi ealle..let befeallan on ðæt ece fyr [a1225 Vesp. fer] þe him gegearcod wæs for heora ofermettum.
c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 199 Gewitæþ..on þene bittræ þrosm hælles fures.
c1225 (?OE) Soul's Addr. to Body (Worcester) (Fragm. E) l. 48 Þonne sculen wit..Faren mid feondes in þet eche fur.
c1390 (?a1300) Stations of Rome Prol. (Vernon) l. 14 (MED) Þe fuir of helle, wher of þe peynes no mon con telle.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 29165 Þe fier of purgatori.
c1450 J. Marion in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1913) 131 53 (MED) To save me fro the Enferne, I mene the fiere that is so full of fer.
a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk Festial (Gough) (1905) 161 (MED) A tonge ys furut wyth þe fyre of helle, and may neuer be chastist whyll þat fyre brennyth hur.
1542 T. Becon Christmas Bankette sig. F.v Al ye fyres & paynes of hell could neuer before this daye so allure me to the loue of God, as you haue nowe done.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccccviij The other Princes & states, especially suche as are nere the fire.
1577 W. Fulke Overthrow & Confut. Doctr. Purgatory i. vi. 102 in Two Treat. against Papistes What doctrine is tryed to be true or false, substantiall or superficiall by the fire of purgatory?
1639 W. Laud in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll.: Second Pt. (1721) II. 899 Let him make a happy use of coming so near the Fire, and yet escape.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 48 In Adamantine Chains and penal Fire . View more context for this quotation
1742 F. Blyth Serm. Every Sunday II. 241 The Fire of Hell..with red-hot Vengeance..makes their over-boiling Juices flow down their Cheeks in scalding Tears.
1785 A. Yearsley Poems Several Occasions 19 Purge your earthly crimes in liquid fire, In anguish plung'd, till ages shall expire.
1845 Times 19 Mar. 7 The Romish Church taught that after this life there existed a purgatorial fire, in which sins might be purified and refined.
1888 Old Test. Student 8 63 The hell of the Koran is one of literal fire.
1907 J. McDonald Life in Old Virginia xx. 280 A new preacher..pictured to his hearers..the great joys of heaven, and the tortures of eternal fires.
1991 R. R. McCammon Boy's Life ii. v. 146 An impassioned sermon about how..citizens had to fight the devil every minute of their lives to keep from being fried in fire.
2014 R. S. Busse (title) To be near the fire: demonic possession, risk analysis, and Jesus' war on Satan.
b. Theology. Fire as a symbol of the presence or action of the Holy Spirit, or of the effects of the Holy Spirit on the human soul. Cf. baptism of fire n. at baptism n. 2b.
ΚΠ
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxii. 355 On þysum dæge com se halga gast on fyres [a1225 Lamb. fures] hiwe to godes hirede.
OE Hymns (Julius A.vi) lxxvi. 2 in H. Gneuss Hymnar u. Hymnen im englischen Mittelalter (1968) 363 Qui diceris paraclitus, donum altissimi dei et vivus fons et ignis et caritas et spiritalis unctio : þu þe eart gecweden frofergast gife þæs hehstan godes & libbende wyll & fyr & soð lufu & gastlic smyrels.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) 19456 Godess gast off heffne comm I firess onnlicnesse.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 42 Heh healent godd, wið þe halewende fur of þe hali gast, moncune froure, froure [emended in ed. to fure] min heorte.
c1350 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 57 Gaste of god heiest is he, Welle quic, fire, and charite And gosteli seruise.
a1450 (?1348) R. Rolle Form of Living (Cambr.) in Eng. Writings (1931) 89 (MED) Þe fire of þe Haly Gast þat purges all syn.
1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer iv. sig. Xx.iiiv This most holye fire in soules destroyeth and consumeth what so euer there is mortall in them, and relieueth and maketh beawtyfull the heauenlye part.
1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (ii. 18) 996 Such a fire as he sent downe in disparted tongues..at Pentecost.
1697 J. Lead Fountain of Gardens II. 257 As I did see, the rising of this Fire, even so should be the flowing of the Holy Ghost.
1758 J. Wesley Let. 4 Nov. (1931) IV. 39 The Holy Ghost sat on the Apostles with cloven tongues as of fire.
1865 N. P. Wiseman Serm. on Our Lord Jesus Christ App. 369 The fire which Jesus scattered over the earth, from the wings of the dove-like Paraclete,..was a fire that would save, not destroy, souls.
1921 Trenton (New Jersey) Evening Times 3 Sept. 10/5 The refining fire of the Holy Spirit sanctified their spirit, mind and body.
1973 A. Greeley New Agenda vi. 227 The Holy Spirit is both the comforter..and the fire that glows where he wills and sets men aflame.
2003 R. Taylor How to read Church 56 The Holy Spirit can also be represented by fire, in particular a fire with seven or nine or twelve tongues of flame.
7.
a. Volcanic flame or heat; incandescent lava. Also: a volcanic eruption or outburst; a lava flow.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > ejected volcanic material > [noun] > volcanic fire
fireeOE
furnace1660
wildfire1672
fire spout1739
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > formation of features > convulsion > [noun] > volcanic activity > eruption
irruption1613
fire1632
incendium1637
eructation1652
volcano1699
eruption1740
explosion1771
eruction1842
extravasation1842
volcanoism1907
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) v. iv. 119 Eþna fyr afleow up [L. exundauit igneis globis] swa brad & swa micel, þætte feawe men þara monna mehten beon eardfæste.
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 208 Þa getimode hit ymbe twelfmonað æfter Agathes þrowunge, and Ethna up ableow swyðe egeslice ontendnysse,..and seo eorðe forbarn... Þa wearð þæt fyr gestilled.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 315 Þe lond of Sicilia is holow and ful of dennes.., and fuyre i-closed in þe dennes and chenes wiþ ynne þe erþe stryueþ wiþ þe ayer.
c1582 E. Skory in Nature 1 Feb. (1883) 316/1 The fyers doe ofte breake forth from out the hole in the topp of this hill.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. ix. 391 This last and least fire [of Etna] runne downe in a combustible flood.
1669 Earl of Winchelsea True Relation Mt. Ætna 4 That extraordinary Fire which comes from Mount Gibel..is 15 miles in length, and 7 in breadth.
1734 A. Pope Ess. Man: Epist. IV 120 Shall burning Ætna..Forget to thunder, and recall her fires?
1795 J. Hutton Theory Earth I. 163 The melting, breaking, and removing power of subterraneous fire, has been actually exerted upon this land.
1811 W. J. Hooker Jrnl. Tour Iceland (1813) II. 106 Hecla, from the frequency of its fires..has been..the most celebrated.
1839 C. Darwin in R. Fitzroy & C. Darwin Narr. Surv. Voy. H.M.S. Adventure & Beagle III. i. 1 The volcanic fire of past ages..rendered the soil sterile and unfit for vegetation.
1944 J. R. R. Tolkien Let. 29 Nov. (1995) 104 An island of rock surrounded by the fire of the erupting Mount Doom.
1992 S. Sontag Volcano Lover i. ii. 27 The mountain was never free of its smoking wreath, the occasional toss of blazing scoriae, the spurt of fire, the drip of lava.
2003 F. L. DeCourten Broken Land v. 106/2 With its volcanic fires extinguished, the arc thermally contracted and disappeared into the deep levels of the crust.
b. The heat or energy of the sun. Also in plural.
ΚΠ
OE Hymns (Durh. B.iii.32) ix. 1 in I. Milfull Hymns of Anglo-Saxon Church (1996) 131 Verax deus, qui temperas rerum vices, splendore mane instruis & ignibus meridiem : o eala þu soþfæsta God þu þe gemetegast gescæfta gewrixl mid beorhtnyssa ærnemergen þu tihst & mid fyrum middæg.
c1450 (?a1405) J. Lydgate Complaint Black Knight (Fairf.) l. 55 in Minor Poems (1934) ii. 385 (MED) Phebus feruent fere, Which in his spere so hote shone and clere.
1662 J. Chandler tr. J. B. van Helmont Oriatrike cxiii. 794 The Sun also, as the very Center of the connexed beams, shall of necessity be most exceeding hot: For the Fire of the Sun persisteth without nourishment, by the command of God.
1781 J. Clowes tr. E. Swedenborg True Christian Relig. II. 454 Can the Sun's Fire..touch Man, much less enter into him, unless its Rays be veiled with atmospheres; and thus by a proper Temperament of Heat it be accommodated to Reception?
1864 Circular 12 Sept. 1/1 I..have been..readjusting..my ideas of mechanical force and heat through all their extent, from the motion of a watch and the heat of a stove to the orbit of planets and the fire of the sun.
1907 J. Tyndall in A. L. Draper Self Culture for Young People VIII. 376 Not only, therefore, is it the sun's fire which produces evaporation, but a particular constituent of that fire.
1991 Yoga Jrnl. May 34/2 As Spring progresses, we thaw.., until eventually the sun's fire reaches our very core.
2003 C. J. Sansom Dark Fire (2007) 290 I thought of the sun's fire turning the water to vapour, drawing it upward from the earth through the hot air.
c. The light emitted by any of various (luminous) celestial objects, as the sun, stars, meteors, comets, etc. Also: a phenomenon or spectacle of light or colour in the air. In later use frequently literary and poetic.fatuous fire, foolish fire, St. Elmo's fire: see the first element.
ΚΠ
OE Ælfric De Temporibus Anni (Cambr. Gg.3.28) (2009) ix. 90 Ac hit ne sind na steorran þæt ðær feallað, ac is fyr of ðam rodore, þe sprincð of ðam tunglum swa swa spearcan doð of fyre.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1122 & saedon þet hi sægon on norðeast fir micel & brad wið þone eorðe, & weax on lengþe up on an to þam wolcne.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. ijv/1 All the sterres shal fall fro the heuen & shal sprede out Rayes of fyre.
1560 J. Heywood tr. Seneca Thyestes iv. sig. Diii About the poale yet glowthe no fyre in sight: nor light of Moone the shades dothe comfort yet.
1583 R. Harvey Astrological Disc. 31 There shall doubtlesse be seene..many very straunge & terrible sights in the middle region of the aier, as fierie Meteors, flashings, and flamings of fire.
1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. xxv. x. 280 They be called Comets or hairie starres, for that..by the flashing of fire from them, certaine haires seeme to be scattered.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) i. iv. 50 Starres hide your fires, Let not Light see my black and deepe desires. View more context for this quotation
1662 J. Glanvill Lux Orientalis xiv. 179 That great orb of fire..shall fly away out of this vortex, and become a wandring comet.
1799 Edinb. Mag. June 462/2 She loves to trace the meteor's fire Borne on the eagle's fearless wing.
1820 P. B. Shelley Prometheus Unbound i. i. 57 Their soft smiles light the air like a star's fire.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iv. 78 Like the mystic fire on a mast-head.
1947 J. Steinbeck Pearl i. 5 The dawn came quickly now, a wash, a glow, a lightness, and then an explosion of fire as the sun arose out of the Gulf.
2010 C. Clark Savage Lands 18 The fire of the sun had burned itself out and night drifted against the split-log palisades that encircled the settlement.
d. Lightning; a flash of lightning; a thunderbolt. See also electric fire n. 1, heaven's fire at Phrases 4c(a), flag of fire at flag n.6 Now rare.Sometimes merging with sense A. 6b, with reference to lightning as a divine instrument or manifestation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > [noun]
fireOE
electricity1646
electrical fire1745
ethericity1748
white coal1916
wattage1977
leccy1987
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [noun] > lightning
fireOE
lightinglOE
levininga1300
lightningc1300
lightc1325
thunderlightc1374
firelighta1400
laitinga1400
lighten?a1425
Jove's or God's branda1522
fulgur1563
thunder-shot1606
whirl-fire1606
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > thunder and lightning > [noun] > lightning
fireOE
lightinglOE
levininga1300
levinc1300
lightningc1300
lightc1325
thunderlightc1374
firelighta1400
laitinga1400
lighten?a1425
Jove's or God's branda1522
fulgur1563
thunder-shot1606
whirl-fire1606
OE Ælfric De Temporibus Anni (Cambr. Gg.3.28) (2009) xiv. 96 Se [ðunor] bið hlud for þære lyfte bradnysse, & frecenful for þæs fyres sceotungum.
OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Exod. (Claud.) ix. 24 Drihten sende þunorrada & hagol & byrnende ligeta ofer eal Egypta land. & Drihten let rinan hagol wið fyr [L. ignis] gemenged .
?a1300 in E. Stengel Codicem Manu Scriptum Digby 86 (1871) 56 (MED) So doþ þat fuir of þonres liȝt.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3046 Ðhunder and hail and leuenes fir.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 315 (MED) It is gret feere Bothe of the strok and of the fyr.
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. iv. l. 102 Þenne falleþ þer fur on false menne houses.
1568 J. Fen tr. J. Osório Learned Treat. Haddon ii. f. 144v Neither doe you tremble at the thunder and fier of Gods wrath.
1613 P. Simson Short Compend Hist. First Ten Persecutions I. ii. sig. F3 Lorde Iesus..dashed the Barbarians with thunder and fire.
1700 R. Blackmore Paraphr. Job 212 May the relentless, harden'd Sky..With Fire be blasted, and with Thunder rent.
1820 P. B. Shelley Ode to West Wind ii, in Prometheus Unbound 190 From whose solid atmosphere Black rain, and fire, and hail will burst.
1876 G. M. Hopkins Wreck of Deutschland xxxiv, in Poems (1967) 62 A released shower, let flash to the shire, not a lightning of fire hard-hurled.
1931 N.Y. Times 22 July 25/1 Pitchy clouds spat fire and thunder over Long Island Sound this afternoon.
8.
a. A means of lighting a fire or setting something alight, as a firebrand or live coal. Also figurative. Cf. to set (a) fire to at set v.1 34. In early use frequently with reference to the biblical story of Abraham's sacrifice of his son (Genesis 22).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > coal or flame
fireOE
light1647
OE Genesis A (1931) 2888 Wudu bær sunu, fæder fyr and sweord.
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 246 Hwilon eac se halga wer towearp an hæðengild, þa sette he sona fyr on þæt feondlice templ þæt hit bradum lige brastligende hreas.
OE Ælfric Homily (Vitell. C.v) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1968) II. 779 [Hi a]lihton þa ealle & inn stopon caflice, & [ælc] hæfde h[im on handa ænne] isenne sagol on fyres gelicnysse [L. habentes singulos baculum igneum in manu sua].
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1307 Abraham ðe fier and ðe swerd bar.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 3163 Suord ne fir forgat he noght, And ȝong ysaac a fagett broght.
c1425 (c1400) Laud Troy-bk. l. 5879 (MED) Thei sette ffir In schip and fflune.
?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 46 Now son in þi necke þis fagot þou take and þis fyre bere in þinne honde... Take þis brennyng bronde my swete childe and lete us go.
1540 Act 33 Hen. VIII c. 6 With quarelles gunpouder, fyre, and touche.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cvijv Thei set fire in their lodgynges, and departed in good ordre of battail.
1581 T. Styward Pathwaie to Martiall Discipline i. 44 The Caleuers or Coriers..must haue either of them a good and sufficient pece, flaske, touch boxe, pouder, shot, fier, yron [etc.].
1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xxii. 7 Behold the fire and wood; but where is the lambe for a burnt offring? View more context for this quotation
1650 W. Beech Alarum to London 18 I feare if you helpe them not with powder, yet you put fire enough at the Touch hole.
1757 C. Bradbury Cabinet of Jewels 28 The Altar under the Law was hollow, to receive the Fire, the Wood, and the Sacrifice.
1794 Lawyer's & Magistrate's Mag. 3 336 I saw him go into a room with fire in his hand.
1843 J. Abbo Rollo's Philos. Fire III. v. 72 I'll go and get some fire.
a1864 R. S. Surtees Mr. Facey Romford's Hounds (1865) liii. 281 The fat boy..pulled his cigar-case out of his breast-pocket and deliberately selecting a weed, began squeaking for fire wherewith to light it—‘Has anybody got any fire!’
1883 W. D. Howells Woman's Reason (new ed.) II. xx. 178 He bade him..get fire to light the beacon.
1962 S. Ennis tr. P. Sayers Old Woman's Refl. xiv. 107 He put fire to his pipe and went strolling.
2004 N. Stephenson Syst. World (2005) viii. 781 White, with a grin, was putting fire to the touch-hole of a fully loaded and ready-to-go Haubitz.
b.
†(a) Firewood or other material for burning; fuel for a fire. Cf. firebote n. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > [noun]
tindera700
foodOE
eletc1200
firec1300
fuela1398
eldinga1400
firingc1487
betting1521
pabulum1675
fire block1834
fire mixture1855
alternative fuel1906
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 912 Fir and water y wile yow fete..Stickes kan ich breken and kraken.
1429–30 in H. Littlehales Medieval Rec. London City Church (1905) 74 (MED) Also payd for þe plomers fyre..iiij d.
c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 27 (MED) In woode in þe same towne that is nede to howsis and hegges to be made and to fyre to be made.
1547 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1889) IV. 91 In exspenses for fyar and candelle.
a1661 W. Brereton Trav. (1844) 96 There is a mighty want of fire in these moors.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §274 Little extra expence..except a little more Lead, and a little more Fire.
(b) A collection of flammable materials assembled (as if) in preparation for being set alight.Recorded earliest in build v.. See also to lay a fire at lay v.1 35e.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > [noun] > a heap or stack
ruck?c1225
pyre1638
fire1792
1792 Mass. Mag. Dec. 758/2 A Mr Jabez Parsons..as building a fire in the house of Isaac Sheldon..and rolling a log on the fire, was unfortunately struck in his temples by the lever, which put a period to his existence.
1817 N.Y. Weekly Museum 1 Mar. 278/1 The two domestics were both confined with the ague, and unable even to build a fire.
1827 R. Roberts House Servant's Directory 161 Let the grate be perfectly cleared of all foreign substances, and begin the fire at the bottom. The best material for kindling is charcoal.
1888 J. W. Burgon Lives Twelve Good Men II. ix. 227 His fire was laid overnight, and he lighted it himself when he pleased.
1905 Christian Observer 8 Mar. 10 He got a splinter in his thumb while splitting kindling to make a fire.
1971 L. Biggle World Menders 104 The logs of an unlit fire.
2006 B. Salsbury Preparedness Princ. (2009) xxvii. 189 How to build a fire and start it without burning yourself.
†9. Cautery; a cauterizing instrument or agent. Frequently with the. See also to give the fire at Phrases 2c(c). Cf. fire v.1 9. Farriery in later use. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > veterinary medicine and surgery > [noun] > veterinary procedures > procedures in farriery
fireeOE
discordingc1325
rowelling1601
soil1607
raking1610
roping1611
firing1644
scalding1753
balling1788
eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. xxxv. 84 Þonne þu fyr sette on mannan þonne nim þu merwes porres leaf & gegniden sealt, ofer lege þa stowe, þonne bið þy þe raþor þæs fyres hæto aweg atogen.
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 162v Anoþer maner of fire is potenciale..which is done wiþ medicynez caustic & ruptyuez.
?1541 R. Copland Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens sig. O.iv But yf case be that the pacyente were faynt herted and durst nat abyde the fyre.
1566 T. Blundeville Order curing Horses Dis. clxxxv. f. 119v, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe The fyre is iudged of all the olde wryters to be the chiefest remedy.
1629 G. Markham Markhams Faithfull Farrier 103 The Actuall Fire stoppeth corruption of members, and stancheth blood... The Potentiall fires are medecins Corosiue, Putrefactiue, or Caustick.
1737 H. Bracken Farriery Improved 46 And 'till this Callosity, or horny Part, be destroyed by Knife, Fire, or corrosive Powders, there is no such Thing as healing the Wound.
1849 W. Percivall Hippopathology IV. i. 101 The fomentation ‘softens’ the skin, and renders it more susceptible of the fire.
10.
a.
(a) A combustible or explosive substance used for military purposes, typically one that ignites readily, burns fiercely, and is difficult to extinguish; a projectile or other device loaded with such a substance. Usually with modifying word, esp. in artificial fire (cf. feu d'artifice n.). Now chiefly historical.Recorded earliest in Greekish fire n. at Greekish adj. 4. See also wildfire n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > fire, radiation, or chemical weapons > [noun] > fire as weapon
fire?c1225
Greek fire?c1225
Greekish fire?c1225
wildfire1297
firework1528
liquid firea1616
dragoon1626
fire chemise1728
Grecian fire1774
chemise-
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 297 Me warpeð grickisch fur up on his famen & swa me ouercumeð ham.
c1330 (?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Auch.) l. 58 in Englische Studien (1885) 8 118 Þo king richard..Kast wilde fire in to þe sky & fer gregeys in to þe see.
c1450 (?c1408) J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte (1901) l. 1582 That fire which is y-callyd greke Ys nat so perilouse nor so rage [sc. as the fire of love].
1544 P. Betham tr. J. di Porcia Preceptes Warre ii. lxxiv. sig. L.viiiv It shalbe very profitable in warres on the sea, to haue an artificiall fyer, whych wyth water canne not be queanched.
1578 M. Jennings tr. E. de Maisonneufve Gerileon of Englande xix. f. 90v The greate troupe of Galleis (whereof thei ouerthrewe and burned many with Fires artificiall, and other Instrumentes of Warre).
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. J. Albert de Mandelslo 51 in Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors The Artificial Fires, which are made use of to frighten these Creatures [sc. war elephants].
1864 Eclectic Mag. Mar. 336/2 Captain Norton..invented a small shell for an ordinary rifle, which would carry sufficient liquid fire to do immense mischief.
1960 J. R. Partington (title) The history of Greek fire and gunpowder.
1999 S. V. Nicassio Tosca's Rome vii. 179 The Roman tradition of ‘artificial fire’ was still strong in 1800, as it is now.
(b) Frequently in plural. A combustible or explosive substance used for display; a firework. Now historical and rare.Bengal fire, Chinese fire, green fire, etc.: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > firework > [noun]
fireworkc1580
fire1628
pyrotechnic1838
1628 R. Norton Gunner lxxiv. 153 Furnish them with as many Rockets fast bound, and betweene them as many Tyres of coloured Fires, Serpents, breakers, or shewers of Gold.
1700 J. Jackson Let. in S. Pepys Diary & Corr. (1879) VI. 232 The rockets, and other smaller fires, were in abundance.
1749 Descr. Machine for Fireworks 9 Two regulated Pieces consisting of vertical Motions communicating to fixed Fires, each having Four Mutations.
1888 Bismarck (Dakota Territory) Daily Tribune 19 Aug. 1/3 All the fire and dynamite, stage thunder and panorama lightning, sky rockets and red fire will be cherished and preserved until November 5th.
1960 J. R. Partington Hist. Greek Fire & Gunpowder v. 227 An English display..included coloured fires, large set-pieces, rockets (which sent out firework fish), [etc.].
b. The discharge of ammunition from a firearm or (sometimes) other projectile weapon; shots, or discharges of missiles, collectively; (also occasionally as a count noun) a shot or burst of shots from a firearm. Also: the action or an act of shooting a weapon.Recorded earliest in weapon of fire at Phrases 4i.artillery fire, false fire, friendly fire, gunfire, platoon fire, reverse fire, etc.: see the first element.Cf. also to give fire at Phrases 2c, to open fire at Phrases 2f, to return fire at return v.1 Phrases 1, under fire at Phrases 3d.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > [noun]
cane of fire1550
shota1578
fire1590
fire piece1592
fireweapon?1592
powder instrument1613
firearm1643
firegun1677
bulldog1700
nail driver1823
peacemaker1840
thunder stick1918
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > [noun]
gunning1570
fire1590
firing1684
squibbing1697
gunfire1801
gunnery1816
pop-off1843
pluffing1852
machine-gun fire1882
gun-play1897
loosing off1906
1590 J. Smythe Certain Disc. Weapons sig. **4v Piquers with their piques, Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers with their weapons of fire.
1608 E. Grimeston tr. J. F. Le Petit Gen. Hist. Netherlands xiv. 1090 The Gonner giuing fire, sent backe that bullet with the other which he had charged into the towne.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xlv. 177 He set himself with it to shoot at an Orange tree that was not far off, but fire being given, it was his ill hap that the Harquebuse brake into three pieces.
1685 Mr. Travestin Acct. Proc. against Turks 10 The Besieged made another Sally with Three hundred Foot, and Two hundred Horse, thinking to spoil the Batteries we were raising at (D) or to draw our men under the fire of their Ramparts.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 80. ⁋9 The Charge began with the Fire of Bombs and Grenades.
1788 Analyt. Rev. July 292 Only six women and children were, unfortunately, killed; owing to their being exposed to our fire promiscuously with the garrison.
1816 W. Scott Paul's Lett. to Kinsfolk 150 One fire..struck down seven men of the square.
1820 Monthly Mag. 30 July 589/1 The batteries kept up a warm and well directed fire upon the fort.
1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest I. iv. 68 You shall have the first fire.
1897 C. C. King Story of Brit. Army i. 9 The bowmen covered the advance by arrow fire.
1930 S. Sassoon Mem. Infantry Officer vi. 157 The broken ground and the slope of the hill saved us a bit from their fire.
1959 C. Ogburn Marauders (1960) iv. 125 The Japanese..redoubled the fire of their grenade launchers.
1982 Sunday Times (S. Afr.) 21 Mar. 21 They were not expecting an attack and we received no fire as we dropped a stick of troops.
2012 C. Fernyhough Pieces of Light (2013) x. 206 Four of their number had been killed by enemy fire.
11. Fire as a means of inflicting pain, esp. as a method of torture or execution. Now chiefly historical.Cf. faggot n. 2a and fire and faggot at faggot n. and adj. Phrases 1.Also used figuratively in †to persuade by fire: to make extreme efforts to persuade.With ordeal by fire, trial by fire cf. ordeal n. 1, trial n.1 1b(a).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [phrase] > by extreme inducements
fire1483
society > authority > punishment > torture > [noun] > roasting
roastingc1350
fire1483
the world > life > death > manner of death > [noun] > death by burning
fire1718
society > authority > punishment > capital punishment > [noun] > burning
burningc1375
fire1718
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. cxxxjv/2 He had be tormented by fyre & by betyng, & pryson.
1528 W. Tyndale That Fayth Mother of All Good Workes f. lvv If Paule were now a live & wolde defende his awne lerninge, he shulde be tried thorowe fyre.., with fyre of fagottes.
1542 T. Becon Dauids Harpe sig. c.vi So mighty a thyng is fayth, that it neyther feareth manacinge wordes, cruell threates, sharpe lookes, empresoning, fetters, chenes, fagottes, fyre, nor what so euer tyranny all the tyrauntes of the worlde can inuent.
1612 S. Daniel First Pt. Hist. Eng. 125 For their tryals in cases criminall, where manifest proofes failed, they continued their antient custome... Ordeal by fire, which was for the better sort, and by water for the inferiour.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. iii. 9 And are not sometime perswaded by fire beyond their literalities. View more context for this quotation
1693 J. Bancroft Henry II iv. 39 You sav'd me from the Rack to Dye by Fire.
1718 M. Prior Charity 8 Did Shadrach's Zeal my glowing Breast inspire, To weary Tortures, and rejoice in Fire.
1771 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. III. xxv. 62 During this persecution, two hundred and seventy-seven persons suffered by fire, besides those punished by imprisonment, fines, and confiscations.
1838 H. St Clair Martyr of Freedom 111 The martyrdom by fire is not given as a specimen of the mode of execution commonly employed against the Covenanters.
1878 A. J. Thebaud Church & Gentile World viii. 497 The clergy, the monks, and the virgins consecrated to God, were the first to suffer by fire.
1944 W. W. Williams St. Bernard 28 Several of the sectaries were submitted..to the trial by fire.
1976 N.Y. Times 26 Dec. 26 Britten..recorded this hour-long dramatization of Nebuchadnezzar and the three Israelites who miraculously survived the King's punishment by fire.
2004 P. D. Mitchell Med. in Crusades iv. 125 A number of techniques employed fire to torture a victim..until they confessed to whatever crimes they were alleged to have committed.
†12. Coal Mining. = firedamp n. Cf. wildfire n. 2e. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > gas > [noun] > fumes or vapour > explosive gas in mines
dampa1592
firedamp1662
fire1672
wildfire1672
fulminating damp1675
dirt1831
sulphur1851
stifle1886
1672 G. Sinclair Hydrostaticks 294 When he comes near the Coal-wall, where the Fire is feared, he creepeth on his belly, with a long Poll before him, with a lighted candle on the end thereof.
1828 Edinb. New Philos. Jrnl. 5 101 In Scotland, the carburetted hydrogen is most abundant in the Ayrshire and Glasgow Collieries..generally named Fire, or Fire-damp.
II. In specific figurative uses and contexts.
13.
a. A burning or ardent emotion; a strong feeling of passion, rage, love, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > amorous love > [noun] > ardour of passion > (of love) a flame or burning passion
fireeOE
flamea1340
flaughena1634
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual desire > [noun]
willOE
loveOE
likinga1200
jollityc1330
desirec1340
fire1340
naturec1387
ragea1425
pride1486
lovered1487
Venus1513
courage1541
passion1648
lusting1760
philogenitiveness1815
body-urge1930
hots1940
hard-on1949
the mind > emotion > passion > ardour or fervour > [noun] > a burning feeling of passion
heatc825
leye971
flamea1340
fire1340
swelmea1400
wildfirea1400
burning1822
the mind > emotion > anger > [noun] > heat of anger
swelmea1400
heatc1480
chafe1551
warmness1563
fire1694
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xxxiii. 225 Ac ðonne he hit [sc. hwæt wiðerweardes] eft ofman æfter lytlum fæce, ðonne ofðyncð him ðæs ilcan ðe he ær forbær, & bið eft onæled mid ðy fyre ðæs sares [L. igne se doloris inflammant].
OE Monastic Canticles (Durh. B.iii.32) (1976) xv. 8 In igne enim zeli mei, devorabitur omnis terra : on fyre soþlice andan mines bið fornumen eall eorðe.
OE Prayers (Arundel 155) iii, in Anglia (1941) 65 232 Illumina..cecitatem cordis mei & accende in me ignem ardoris tui : onlyht..blindnesse heortan minre & onæl on [me] fyr hætan þinre.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 16148 All swillc fir wass hat inoh. I iesu cristess herrte. Þær he..draf all ut. Þatt follc off godess temmple.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 295 Of þeose twa treon ȝe schulen ontenden fur of luue inwið ou wer heorte.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 46 (MED) Þe gost of fornicacion þat serueþ of þe uere of lecherie becleppe þe herten.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 441 The fyr of Ialousie vp sterte With Inne his brest.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. xcixv The greate fire of this discencion, betwene these twoo noble personages, was..vtterly quenched out.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) ii. i. 64 The wicked fire of lust. View more context for this quotation
1694 F. Bragge Pract. Disc. Parables xii. 408 Rage, and fury, and impatience..are frequently attended with the epithet of fire.
1713 C. Johnson Successful Pyrate iii. 29 Th' intemperate Fire of Rage, robb'd me of all.
1782 W. Cowper Table Talk in Poems 31 The victim of his own lascivious fires.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 51 He fain had..loosed in words of sudden fire the wrath..that burnt him all within.
1875 Amer. Church Rev. Jan. 93 Glaze the eye whence feeling beamed or where the fire of holy ardor blazed.
1923 Walther League Messenger Mar. 311/2 What a fire of divine wrath my wickedness must have lighted since they called down the almighty God to become a curse for me!
1954 Odessa (Texas) Amer. 8 Feb. 2/7 The fire of passion has tossed a 39-year-old Odessa Negro with the unconventional name of Up-Town Washington into a pretty hot mess.
2002 S. Home 69 Things to do with Dead Princess viii. 114 There's nothing like a light but perfectly prepared Italian meal for igniting the fires of passion.
b. Liveliness or acuity of intellect, imagination, etc.: power of genius; creative inspiration or invention. Also in plural in same sense.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > inspiration > [noun] > source of
fire?c1400
phaeton1592
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > inventive or creative faculty > creative genius > [noun]
imaginationa1393
fire1656
daimon1852
society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > [noun] > poetic inspiration
muse?a1425
caballine fountain1430
Helicona1529
Castalia1591
enthusiasm1593
fire1656
duende1956
?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iv. pr. vi. l. 3839 By a ryȝt lyuely and a quik fire of þouȝt [L. mentis igne], þat is to seyn by vigour and strengþe of witte.
1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden To Rdr. sig. C4v The fire of our wit is left, as our onely last refuge to warme vs.
1598 G. Chapman in C. Marlowe & G. Chapman Hero & Leander (new ed.) iii. sig. F4v How most strangely-intellectuall fire, That proper to my soule hast power t'inspire Her burning faculties.
1656 A. Cowley Pindarique Odes 28 in Poems Nor can the Snow..Quench or allay the noble Fires within.
1690 W. Temple Ess. Poetry 18 in Miscellanea: 2nd Pt. The Poetical Fire was more raging in one, but clearer in the other.
1737 A. Pope Epist. of Horace ii. i. 16 Corneille's noble fire.
1777 J. Reynolds Disc. Royal Acad. 1776 7 I am persuaded, that scarce a poet is to be found, from Homer down to Dryden,..whose later works are not as replete with the fire of imagination, as those which were produced in his more youthful days.
1805 Evening Fire-side 6 Apr. 2 All the fire of the most brilliant imagination.
1836 Niles' Weekly Reg. 6 Aug. 379/2 Wisdom..hovered over the hall where genius and virtue breathed fire into the hearts of the sages who were there assembled.
1917 Lotus Mag. 8 159/2 Mlle. Alice de Musset, writes charming verses, as if in her flashed a spark of the poetic fire of her granduncle.
1976 J. A. Morris Art of Conversat. xiv. 191 Our voices mirror the intensity..of our intellectual fire.
2014 M. Gelb (title) Creativity on demand: how to ignite and sustain the fire of genius.
c. The animating or vital principle in living things; life force; vital spirit. Also in plural in same sense. Cf. spirit n. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > vital principle > [noun]
souleOE
lifeOE
spiritusOE
bloodOE
ghostOE
life and soulOE
quickship?c1225
quicknessc1230
breatha1300
spirita1325
spark1382
naturec1385
sparkle1388
livelinessa1398
rational soula1398
spiracle1398
animal spirit?a1425
vital spiritc1450
soul of the world1525
candle1535
fire1576
three souls1587
vitality?1592
candlelight1596
substance1605
vivacity1611
animality1615
vividity1616
animals1628
life spring1649
archeus1651
vital1670
spirituosity1677
springs of life1681
microcosmetor1684
vital force1702
vital spark (also flame)1704
stamen1718
vis vitae1752
prana1785
Purusha1785
jiva1807
vital force1822
heartbeat1828
world-soul1828
world-spirit1828
life energy1838
life force1848
ghost soul1869
will to live1871
biogen1882
ki1893
mauri1897
élan vital1907
orgone1942
1576 G. Baker tr. C. Gesner Newe Jewell of Health iii. f. 170 Thys fyre [L. ignis], is named the Elixir vitæ.
1601 R. Dolman tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. III. 187 The spirit of life, which is a quickning fire, and distributeth life to all the mundane wheeles.
1685 C. Cleeve Songs Moses & Deborah 56 This Vital Fire, which After-times call'd Soul, Within its Earthly Dungeon pent, Grew quickly weary of Imprisonment.
1748 tr. Mme de Grafigny Lett. Written by Peruvian Princess iii. 17 I touched the moment in which the spark of divine fire wherewith the Sun animates our being, was going to expire.
1789 J. F. Stanfield Guinea Voy. iii. 34 Yon rushing group plunge headlong in the deep! (With the fierce blast extinct the vital fires).
1844 Q. Rev. Oct. 302 When the corpse is borne to the grave, we know then the secret progress of death.., the inward extinction of the vital fire.
1872 Cornhill Mag. Oct. 408 He breathed fire into puppets of clay.
1948 N.Y. Times 3 Sept. 21/8 Mitochondria..serve as the power plants in which the body burns fats and sugars to keep the fires of life going.
1990 Amer. Poetry Rev. July 33 Clearly the fire of life is flickering out.
2014 S. Rea Tending Heart Fire 2/2 When I was confronting leaving this life, this body, I was reminded of this fire within.
d. As a personal quality: ardour of temperament; zeal, fervour, enthusiasm, spirit.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > passion > ardour or fervour > [noun]
heatc825
earnestOE
fervour1340
ardourc1386
fever heata1398
burning1398
lowea1425
fervencec1430
ferventnessc1430
flame1548
ardency1549
fervency1554
fire1579
calenture1596
inflammation1600
warmth1600
brimstonea1616
incandescence1656
fervidness1692
candency1723
glow1748
white heat1814
hwyl1899
the mind > emotion > courage > spirit > [noun]
hearteOE
spirita1382
fierceness1490
stomach?1529
spritec1540
fire1579
mettle1581
rage1590
brave-spiritednessa1617
lion-heart1667
game1747
spunk1773
pluck1785
gameness1810
ginger1836
pluckiness1846
gimp1901
ticker1930
cojones1932
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 1099 In nature he was not meete for a set battell..and had to doe with a venterous young man, that was all fire: where his corage and ambicion on the other side was coole.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) i. ii. 178 I am glad that my weake words Haue strucke but thus much shew of fire from Brutus. View more context for this quotation
a1652 A. Wilson Hist. Great Brit. (1653) 113 Captain Walter Raleigh, the General's Son (a Man of fire and courage, fitter to execute, than to order his Valour) was slain.
1654 E. Wolley tr. ‘G. de Scudéry’ Curia Politiæ 3 To see this fire extinguished, before the flame grew higher, I was forced to have confidence in an Antient Enemy newly reconciled.
1720 A. Hill Gideon i. 9 'Twas holy Flame, I find, that did inspire My Soul's ungovernable Fire.
1765 W. Stevenson Orig. Poems I. 238 Britain, awake; a finish'd picture see, Drawn..to inspire With virtuous zeal, and patriotic fire.
1817 W. B. Heweston Hist. Napoleon Bonaparte I. xiv. 124 They were chiefly young men, full of fire and spirit, whose eagerness to have a close engagement with the enemy it was almost impossible to restrain.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake II. i. 5 Hereward was haranguing them in words of fire.
1960 W. Harris Palace of Peacock vi. 61 You fellows losing your fire or what?
1978 J. B. Keane Lett. of Irish Minister of State in Celebrated Lett. (1996) 367 Mick and myself is here constant... He's a great gosoon, full of my fire and temper.
2002 J. Cunliffe Encycl. Dog Breeds (new ed.) 240/1 Known as the gladiator of the canine race, the bull terrier is full of fire and courage.
14. Localized heat, burning pain, or fever produced by disease; the disease or pathological process producing such symptoms and signs, spec. inflammation; (frequently with distinguishing word or words) a disease of this kind; (also) slang venereal disease. Now chiefly historical.holy fire, Persian fire, sacred fire, St Anthony's fire, wild fire, etc.: see the first element. †St. Francis' fire (see quot. 1590): (possibly) erysipelas (cf. St Anthony's fire at St Anthony n. 1).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > inflammation > [noun]
heatc1000
fireOE
burning1382
phlegmona1398
disdainc1400
angerc1440
scaldingc1450
brounes1528
inflaming1530
combustion?1541
inflammation1541
incension1598
fieriness1600
angriness1612
exustion1657
phlogosis1666
phlegmasia1706
scald1882
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of visible parts > eruptive diseases > [noun] > erysipelas
wildfirec1000
St. Francis' fireOE
burning1382
erysipelas1398
holy fire1398
rose1599
fieriness of the face1600
fiery1600
Anthony's fire1609
sacred fire1693
sideration1828
OE Glosses to Boethius (Corpus Cambr. 214) in W. C. Hale Edition & Codicol. Study CCCC MS 214 (Ph.D. diss., Univ. Pennsylvania) (1978) 307 Quodcumque miramini triduanae febris igniculo posse dissolui : swa hwæt swa [sc. of the body's good qualities] gewundriað þreo dæglices feferes oððe hriðes mid fyre oððe mid hætum mægen beon toworpen oððe toslopen.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 17414 Wha se stungenn wass þurrh hemm He swallt þurrh firess wunde.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 185 (MED) Þe gret evel..þat me clupeþ þat holi fur [a1400 Trin. Cambr. fuir].
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 223 Panaricium is an enpostym..aboute þe nail & is swiþe hoot &..ful of fier.
?a1425 (?1373) Lelamour Herbal (1938) f. 68v (MED) Hit is gode for the brynnynge of the fyr.
a1500 in J. Evans & M. S. Serjeantson Eng. Mediaeval Lapidaries (1933) 106 (MED) Topaces makeþ cold a malady þat is cleped þe feyr.
1566 T. Blundeville Order curing Horses Dis. clxv. f. 110v, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe You must get it [sc. the pellet] out with an instrument..Then to kil the fire.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iv. sig. D5 The shaking Palsey, and Saint Fraunces fire.
1615 R. Brathwait Strappado 152 Akes in the ioynts, and ringworm in the face, Cramps in the nerues, fire in the priuy place.
1664 J. Chandler tr. J. B. van Helmont Wks. lxii. 472 The Fire did cause Erisipelas's, the Prune or burning coal, the accute or Persian fire, the burning Feaver, &c.
1694 P. M. tr. J. A. Helvétius New Method Curing Fevers 31 The fit lasted the space of twelve hours, during which time he strained very much to vomit, was all in a fire and very near being delirious.
1737 H. Bracken Farriery Improved xxxv. 513 For if they'll only have a little Patience, the Inflammation which they term Fire, will go off by a Discharge of Serous and other Humours.
1850 P. H. Gosse Nat. Hist.: Reptiles 204 Fierce shooting pains are felt in other parts [after the bite of the American Rattlesnake], and a burning fire pervades the body.
1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood I. xxvi. 460 Its light fell on her face, once more flushed in those two spots with the unseen fire of disease.
1900 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 69 She'd left behind a souvenir..in nine days, to my surprise, there was a fire down below.
1970 F. J. Bove Story of Ergot 147 The occult fire ignis occultus often in a single night attacked the limbs, consumed them and caused them to become detached from the body.
2012 T. Hardie House of Wind xxiv. 206 Mia was immediately aware of the fire in his skin and thought any man with such a fever would hardly survive the next hour.
15. Reddening of the face or flashing of the eyes, esp. as a sign of strong emotion or animation; an instance of this.
ΚΠ
1533 tr. Erasmus Enchiridion Militis Christiani xxxviij. sig. S.viiv Yf thou woldest knowe how moche vncomly it were to a man to be ouercome with wrathe,..go vnto a glasse whan thyne eyen so burne flamyng in fyre [L. flammantes].
1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. xxv. f. 222v The liuely sparks and violent fire which sorteth from your faire eyes.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) i. i. 12 His sparkling Eyes, repleat with wrathfull fire . View more context for this quotation
1624 T. Heywood Γυναικεῖον vii. 333 Now modest blushes kindle fire Within her bashfull cheeke.
1734 A. Pope Epist. to Arbuthnot 5 Fire in their eye, and Papers in their hand.
1783 G. Crabbe Village ii. 33 When Honour lov'd, and gave thee every charm, Fire to thy eye and vigour to thy arm.
1835 Knickerbocker Dec. 529 His eyes..when animated, seemed absolutely to sparkle with fire.
1838 Tait's Edinb. Mag. May 331/1 She watch'd young passion's infant fire his snow-white forehead streak.
1895 H. C. Beeching Love & Duty in In Garden 39 Dear mantling cheek, a ruby fire.
1904 Current Lit. Dec. 520 The hair and skin were very fair, like her mother's, the eyes dark and full of fire.
1998 M. Waites Little Triggers (1999) ii. 15 She was lit from within by a fire that only showed in her eyes.
2004 C. Dickey Sleeper 148 I looked at him and just for a second his square face was consumed with fire.
16. A physical property, as luminosity, heat, etc., resembling or suggestive of fire. See also senses A. 7c, A. 14, A. 17.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > [noun] > shining or being luminous > resembling fire or flame
fire1599
lambency1817
1599 L. A. tr. M. Martínez Eighth Bk. Myrror of Knighthood xxv. sig. Ff4v Hee disarmed himselfe, for all his Armour was of a very fyre [Sp. empeço..a quitarse las armas, porque con el mucho fuego las tenia bueltas de color de brasa].
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 614 In the Opal you shal see the burning fire of the Carbuncle or Ruby, the glorious purple of the Amethyst, the greene sea of the Emeraud, and all glittering together.
1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 210 The excellent contrivance of Nature, in placing in Animals..a fire..nourished..by the materials conveyd into the stomach.
1779 A. Bicknell Prince Arthur II. v. 72 His resplendent arms threw forth sparkling fire, that seemed to illuminate him all around.
1803 R. Southey tr. Amadis of Gaul IV. 178 Then drew he his sword, and dealt a blow to Enil, which made the fire flash from his helmet.
1819 A. Rees Cycl. XIV. (at cited word) Also the heat of fermenting substance and of other kinds of chemical combinations has often been called their fire.
1868 J. C. Wilcocks Sea-fisherman (ed. 2) 252 Should the ‘brime’ or ‘fire’ show itself the fish will not be likely to strike the nets.
1868 C. T. Ramage Nooks & Byways of Italy iii. 26 I was astonished to observe the field before us sparkle with fire from a number of small flies which were flitting about.
1902 Encycl. Brit. XXVIII. 611/1 This is a very different thing from the imitation diamond..wanting the hardness and ‘fire’ of the real stone.
1993 J. Urquhart Away 211 The men..turned their heads to glance at her, then quickly looked away, as if the fire of her hair might blind them.
2012 C. Erickson Unfaithful Queen 79 Watching the gems on his remarkable coat flash with fire whenever he moved.
17.
a. A quality or property of food that causes a sensation of heat when it is consumed; (also) the sensation thus caused.
ΚΠ
1703 tr. C. de Renneville Coll. Voy. Dutch E.-India Company 142 When you chaw it [sc. a root much like Ginger, called in Latin Crocus Indicus] you cannot feel the strength, but a little while after it sets the Mouth all in a fire.
1751 Gen. Hist. Several Nations World 422 The reason why this [sc. white Pepper] is so much dearer than the other, is because it is really the best Fruit, and has the Fire taken out of it by Lying on the Ground.
1880 N.-Y. Times 22 Aug. 9/1 Guava punch..repairs the taste, assuages the fire of the pepper, and prepares for new attacks on the pepper-pot.
1997 J. Rovin J. Chan Sourcebk. 174 Chan chews then spits the fire-hot mixture of saliva and pepper juice onto his hands,..trying to put out his oral fire by chugging gallons of water.
2000 A. Dalby Dangerous Tastes 148 The quauhchilli, tree chilli..is the smallest and hottest; the chiltecpin, flea chilli..seems even hotter but loses its fire more quickly.
b. A quality or property of a strong alcoholic drink that rouses a person's temper or spirits or causes a sensation of heat when consumed. Hence: a strong alcoholic drink. Cf. firewater n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > [noun]
water of life?c1450
burning watera1475
watera1475
aqua vitae1542
spirit1559
strong water1615
hot waters1616
spirituous liquor1659
spirit1663
fire1707
tape1725
strunt1786
hard stuff1789
firewater1799
fool's water1815
fool water1837
spirituous liquor1842
timber-doodle1842
lightning1858
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > [noun] > heating quality
fire1853
1707 W. Darrell Gentleman Instructed: 2nd Pt. 122 The Fire of Wine has boyl'd up your Blood into a small Fever.
1737 H. Fielding Hist. Reg. 1736 ii. 19 We'll go take a little Fire, for 'tis confounded cold upon the Stage.
1743 Gentleman's Mag. Nov. 578/1 The warm resentment which some Lords have..expressed against the Disorders which distilled Liquors are supposed to produce, may naturally incline them to wish..that this liquid fire, as it has been termed, were to be extinguished for ever.
1853 W. M. Thackeray Eng. Humourists ii. 89 [He] was of a cold nature, and needed perhaps the fire of wine to warm his blood.
1893 W. Cather Elopement Allan Poole in Hesperian 15 Apr. 5/2 He was never known to do any work except to pour apples into his still and drink freely of the honied fire.
1962 Times 2 July 15/2 As a result its wine has the greatest body, fire and sweetness.
2007 M. Scanlon Sins of Father 7 The brandy's fire helped soothe his nerves.
18. Cricket. Pace and steep bounce in a delivery of a ball, which disconcerts or causes difficulty to the batter; the quality or property ascribed to a pitch or wicket that causes the ball to bounce in this way.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > [noun] > a ball bowled > motion of ball > specific
curl1833
screw1840
devil1845
rise1845
work1846
break1851
spin1851
hang1866
bump1867
fire1888
leg-spin1888
air break1900
turn1900
underspin1901
off-spin1904
finger spin1905
swing1906
back-spin1916
outswing1921
inswing1927
away swing1936
wrist-spin1960
1888 A. G. Steel in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) iii. 161 A good long run should be taken, as this gets way and ‘fire’ on to the ball.
1897 K. S. Ranjitsinhji Jubilee Bk. Cricket iii. 86 There is something to be done with the ball when..the wicket has fire in it.
1962 Times of India 20 Oct. 10/4 There was no fire in the pitch, on which Dexter chose to bat.
1981 Times 14 Mar. 6/3 With the pitch losing a little of its fire and the ball no longer as hard as it had been, this was a bonus for England.
2002 Press (Christchurch, N.Z.) (Nexis) 19 Mar. 26 He made use of what little fire there was in the pitch, after the start was delayed four hours until 2pm after heavy overnight rain.
B. int. (For Fire! as a word of command to begin shooting see fire v.1 13c.)
1. As an exclamation to raise the alarm or call for help in the event of fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > warning of imminent danger or evil > warning cry [interjection] > other spec.
wardererec1405
murder?a1500
fire1534
gardyloo1771
cheesa1955
1534 J. Heywood Play of Loue sig. D.ivv (stage direct.) Here the vyse cometh in ronnyng sodenly aboute the place among the audyens with a hye copyn tank on his hed full of squybs fyred cryeng water water, fyre fyre, fyre, water, water, fyre, tyll the fyre in the squybs be spent.
?1567 Merie Tales Master Skelton sig. A.iiv Skelton dyd crye Fier Fier (styll) that euerye man knewe not whether to resorte.
1682 N. O. tr. N. Boileau-Despréaux Lutrin iv. 201 One cryes, Fire! Fire! Fire! the Church doth burn.
1773 H. Mackenzie Man of World II. ix. 75 A confused assemblage of voices crying out, Fire! Fire! echoed from one end of the street to the other.
1819 T. Moore Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 21 As a man would cry ‘fire!’
1871 Our Boys & Girls Apr. 253 The whole city was in an uproar,—the rapid and discordant clanging of every church bell, everybody yelling fire.
1901 Scribner's Mag. Apr. 409/1 When you get over the fence,..yell fire till the crowd comes.
1944 Rotarian Aug. 62/2 Grandmother ran out into her yard yelling, ‘Fire! Fire!’ at the top of her lungs, and then ran back into the house.
2011 C. Coble Lonestar Angel 199 Flames were licking at the roof of the building. ‘Fire!’ he shouted.
2. In various exclamatory phrases, as fire and fury, blood and fire, etc., expressing anger, surprise, impatience, etc. Now archaic except in hell-fire int.Recorded earliest in fire and brimstone int. See also flesh and fire! at flesh n. 9d, great balls of fire at ball of fire n. Phrases.
ΚΠ
1608 T. Middleton Your Fiue Gallants sig. A2 Fire and brimstone, cut it out into matches, the white linings will serue for tinder.
1616 S. S. Honest Lawyer iv. sig. H3 Gone, sayst thou? and with the mony? fire and gun-powder! how are we blowne vp?
1696 P. A. Motteux Loves of Mars & Venus i. 8 'S Blood and Fire, who am I?
1701 C. Cibber Love makes Man iii. 25 Fire! and Furies! I am tutor'd here like a meer School Boy!
1779 F. Pilon Liverpool Prize i. 15 'Sblood and fire, Sir! If I thought you would ever breathe an accent which might cast a shadow of reproach on this adorable and virtuous creature's character,..I'd sacrifice you this moment.
1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge l. 226 Fire and fury, master!.. What have we done, that you should talk to us like this!
1998 R. Jordan Path of Daggers xxiv. 473 Blood and fire, I only listened to Colavaere, but I have known I was a dead man since he killed her.

Phrases

P1. In similative phrases (literal and figurative), as as hot as fire, as red as fire, to burn like fire, etc.
ΚΠ
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) iii. 24 Beo he eac onbryrd, and byrnende on godes lufe swa swa fyr.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 3179 Yfourmed as a dragon, as red ase fur [a1400 Trin. Cambr. fuir, c1425 Harl. fuyr].
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 907 Sum-time it hentis me wiþ hete as hot as ani fure.
1574 J. Higgins 1st Pt. Mirour for Magistrates Elstride f. 25v And when shee spake, hir eyes did leame as fire.
1582 T. Watson Passionate Cent. of Loue v, in Poems (1870) 41 I waue in doubt what helpe I shall require, In Sommer freeze, in winter burne like fire.
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue i. 49 With a face as red as fire.
1657 R. Sanderson 14 Serm. iii. 159 Rowzing up himself and his spirits with zeal as hot as fire.
1703 M. Pix Different Widows v. 54 I am Cold as water, Deaf as wind, and Pitiless as fire.
1794 G. Adams Lect. Nat. & Exper. Philos. I. x. 440 Phlogiston, a substance as imponderable as fire.
1808 W. Scott Marmion vi. xiv. 336 Burned Marmion's swarthy cheek like fire, And shook his very frame for ire.
1889 Salem (Ohio) Daily News 7 Feb. 3/2 The evil one had a huge head and face, with prick-ears and eyes as bright as fire.
1922 E. Nesbit Many Voices 18 I love you hot as fire, my girl.
1990 H. Crews Body i. 11 After the third set of prone presses with a hundred and fifty pounds on the bar..her pecs under her breasts..burned like fire.
P2. With a verb.
a. to breathe fire.
(a) Of a mythological creature, esp. a dragon: to exhale fire, or appear to do so. Cf. fire-breathing adj. at Compounds 1b(a).
ΚΠ
1544 A. Cope Hist. Anniball & Scipio xvii. 25 Whan at the fyrst they sawe as it were liuing thinges, breathynge fyre and flames, they stode as astonyed with the syght.
1577 S. Batman Golden Bk. Leaden Goddes f. 5v Mars was portraicted al armed, his Chariot was drawen with two horses breathing Fyer.
a1676 J. Dunton House of Weeping (1682) ii. 128 Looking into the Ditch, he spies at the bottom a terrible Dragon breathing Fire.
?1776 Mag. à la Mode 32/2 Scander and Ali are dispatched home in a chariot drawn through the clouds by dragons breathing fire at their nostrils.
1887 J. W. Buel Sea & Land 386 The dragon, or flying reptile, breathing fire and poisoning the air with its fiery breath.
1989 M. Hudson Our Grandmothers' Drums (1990) xii. 222 The dragon can breathe fire and disappear at will.
2007 T. Stouffer Compl. Idiot's Guide World of Harry Potter 34 In German mythology, the dragon is known as the ‘firedrake’, and in classic dragon form, it breathes fire, hordes treasure, and kidnaps fair maidens.
(b) figurative. To express oneself angrily, threateningly, or antagonistically; (later also simply) to be very angry. Also in elaborated variants, as to breathe fire and sword: to incite, urge, or agitate war, vengeance, or retribution; cf. fire and sword at Phrases 4h(a).In quot. 1610 with reference to the threat of hell or damnation; cf. fire and brimstone n. 2.
ΚΠ
1610 D. Price Def. of Truth i. vii. 104 O avoide the heate of a Iesuite: he is hell fire, heaping powder, breathing fire, writing blood.
1699 tr. J. de La Bruyère Characters 222 Those who..enjoy the goods of fortune in a secure part of the Town, where there is no danger of their lives or estates, are the Men that generally breathe Fire and Sword.
1774 St. James's Chron. 27 Aug. Some are for making a Retreat..; others breathe Fire and Sword, and are for teaching the Americans Loyalty on English Gibbets.
1833 L. W. Bickley Zoe II. xiv. 144 Blunt John..might be there discerned, breathing fire and vengeance against the world.
1914 E. Wharton Let. 22 Aug. (1988) 333 So glad to get your letter by the belliqueux Henri, who arrived breathing fire the day before yesterday.
1938 C. Brooks Jrnl. 20 Apr. (1998) 204 Having successfully disarmed us they now breathe fire and slaughter.
1976 S. J. Perelman Let. 3 Oct. in Don't tread on Me (1987) 318 I guess you saw our Lil breathing fire on the front page of the Times.
2003 National Post (Canada) 5 June a7/1 After breathing fire in his first few speeches, the Newfoundland Premier has had a tough time selling his idea of a limited constitutional deal, in which Ottawa would cede partial control of fishery to the provinces.
b. figurative. to fight (also meet) fire with fire: to use the same weapons, tactics, etc., as one's enemy or opponent, even if one finds those means objectionable.Sometimes with allusion to the practice of fighting a wildfire by setting fire to potential fuel sources in the surrounding area.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) v. i. 2099 Be stirring as the time, be fire with fire, Threaten the threatner, and out-face the brow Of bragging horror.]
1806 Port Folio 1 Feb. 54 On trying occasions, our spirits rally, and enable us to ‘meet fire with fire’.
1840 Jrnl. Proc. Senate Territory of Florida 5 We must ‘fight fire with fire’,—the white man must..adopt the mode of warfare, pursued by the red man.
1970 Jet 15 Jan. 30 We wouldn't stoop to such a low level. You don't fight fire with fire. Although you've heard of fighting fire with fire..we say you fight racism with solidarity.
2006 M. Apostolina Dark Cindy 19 Fight fire with fire... You want to fight a snake, you become a snake. Battle with a tiger, bite like a tiger.
c. to give fire and variants.
(a) To launch an attack with artillery or firearms; to shoot, fire; (also of a firearm or other gun) to discharge a bullet or projectile. Formerly also †to make fire. Also figurative. Cf. to open fire at Phrases 2f, to return fire at return v.1 Phrases 1. Now rare.Originally sometimes encompassing the notion of igniting a charge or fuse; cf. Phrases 2c(b). [Compare Middle French, French faire feu to discharge a firearm (15th cent.).]
ΚΠ
1556 J. Heywood Spider & Flie lxv. sig. *Eeiiv The watch towre strake a larum: thenmyes discrieng The goonners gaue fire: and first at raundon, thay: Shot of, the goonstones among the flies flying.
1593 M. Sutcliffe Pract., Proc., & Lawes of Armes xviii. 281 Of al peeces the demy coluerine in the nose and poope is most effectuall, both for the long reach, and for that it giueth the fire all out of the ship.
1643 Observ. Earle of New-castles Declar. 11 For your Latine ante mota certamina, I shall draw up a squadron of Latine to give fire on his Lordships, non est pudor transire ad meliora.
1657 R. Ligon True Hist. Barbados 8 Some of the soldiers of the Castle gave fire upon them.
1678 G. Fox & J. Burnyeat New-Eng.-fire-brand Quenched 19 He first gave fire upon me in this following Letter.
1684 Relation Taking of Prevesa 3 The 26. the Breach was considerable, and the Enemies made very little fire with their Musquets.
1706 London Gaz. No. 4243/1 We made..great fire all Night with our Cannon.
1727 S. Colliber Columna Rostrata v. 147 Having rudely dismis'd the English commissioners, they gave fire on the fleet.
1751 R. Paltock Life Peter Wilkins II. vi. 46 I then shewed them how I made it [sc. the gun] give Fire, by snapping the Cock.
1842 E. Thornton Hist. Brit. Empire in India III. xviii. 114 The sentinels on the ramparts gave fire on hearing the disturbance.
1898 Mil. Notes on Cuba (U.S. Adjutant-General's Office: Mil. Information Div.) 320 All of which [guns] might possibly give fire against an advance from the mouth of the bay.
2014 D. Rodriguez Rise 136 If anyone can hear this, give fire on three! One..two..three!
(b) To apply a source of fire such as a match to an explosive charge, firearm, fuse, etc. Formerly also of a fuse: †to ignite readily (obsolete). Now historical.See note at Phrases 2c(a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or consume by fire [verb (transitive)] > kindle or set alight
annealeOE
ontendeOE
atend1006
alightOE
kindlec1175
tindc1175
lightc1225
lightenc1384
quickc1390
firea1393
to set (a) fire in, on, upon, of, now only toc1400
quickenc1425
accenda1475
enlumine1477
to light upa1500
to shoot (something) on firec1540
to give fire1562
incend1598
entine1612
betine1659
emblaze1743
to touch off1759
ignite1823
1562 P. Whitehorne Certain Waies Orderyng Souldiers f. 36, in tr. N. Machiavelli Arte of Warre Gyuinge fyre to the sayde balles, and throwinge them emonge the enemies, they will doo maruelus and wonderfull hurte.
1590 J. Smythe Certain Disc. Weapons 21 The Harquebuziers giving fire with their matches..to the touchpowder.
1607 T. Tomkis Lingua iv. i. sig. Hv He comes back, and giues fire to the tutch-hole.
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. 85 These Fuses are very certain to give Fire.
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xiii. 354 The Lady..having given fire her self to the Cannon.
1761 T. Gray Let. 24 Sept. in Corr. (1971) II. 756 Fire was given to all the lustres at once by trains of prepared flax.
1887 Professional Papers Corps of Royal Engineers 13 123 [During the Englsh Civil War] the man who gave fire, held two linstocks, one in each hand; with one he first lighted the fuze, and then with the other he, immediately after, gave fire to the priming.
1905 J. Masefield Sea Life Nelson's Time ii. 37 When a man gave fire to a piece he..applied the red end [of the match] to the train of powder.
2008 S. Bull Furie of Ordinance i. 23 Some of the priming powder was around the top of the hole, so that the man who gave fire to the gun did not have to place his linstock or portfire directly into the hole.
†(c) Farriery. Also to give the fire. To perform cautery; to carry out firing (firing n. 5). Obsolete (historical in later use).Occasionally with horse as indirect object.
ΚΠ
1566 T. Blundeville Order curing Horses Dis. clxxxv. f. 119v (heading) , in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe Of Cauterization, or gyuing the fyre.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 384 He would haue the left side to be bathed in warme water and to be hard rubbed. And if al this wil not helpe, then to giue him the fire.
1635 G. Markham Faithful Farrier 103 There are two waies to give Fire, the one Actuall, and the other Potential.
1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. vi. 217 The Absurdity of giving the Fire for the Cure of Bog-Spavins.
1772 S. Freeman Farrier's Vade Mecum xliii. 86 If the Part is much swelled, give the Fire, and afterwards apply a blistering Plaister over the Wound.
1849 W. Percivall Hippopathology IV. i. 111 If, then, we take it to be a settled point that it is our duty or best policy to give the fire.
1910 Amer. Jrnl. Vet. Med. 5 138 It was the custom to tear out the sole of the foot on which the ringbone appeared,..usually followed by ‘giving the fire’.
d. to go on fire (formerly also †afire): = to catch fire at catch v. Phrases 5. Cf. on fire at Phrases 3b. Chiefly Irish English and Scottish in later use.
ΚΠ
a1450 (c1410) Dives & Pauper (Douce 295) i. xliv. f. 42 Whan smoke medlid with fire comyth oute of an house be þe windowis or be þe loueris, men..wil seyne þat house shal gon a fire [1496 de Worde go on fyre].
1816 Rep. Trial P. Sellar 27 The blankets in which she was wrapt were burnt, and the bed was going on fire before she was taken out.
1866 W. Gregor Dial. Banffshire (Philol. Soc.) 65 Fin the hoose gede on fire, the glaims gede oot our the riggan o't.
1949 Lethbridge (Alberta) Herald 24 Dec. 10/1 The fire department has been called to a tree that went on fire because of overloading and faulty Christmas tree lighting.
1992 Irish Times (Nexis) 2 Dec. 1 The building..went on fire after the explosion.
2008 A. D. Saunders Chasin' that Carrot 154 Naw, don't worry aboot that hen, the car'll no' go oan fire noo, yer stuff is a' safe!
e. colloquial (originally and chiefly North American). to light (also occasionally build, set, etc.) a fire under: (originally, chiefly in unsubstantiated stories) to rouse (a mule, horse, or other working animal) into action by lighting a fire beneath its torso; (later chiefly) to motivate to work or act more quickly or enthusiastically; to agitate, animate, or excite; to put pressure on.
ΚΠ
1847 Spirit of Times 23 Jan. 569 You can start him [sc. a horse] if you'll only bring some shavings and kindle a fire under him, as I did.
1904 Era Mag. Aug. 135/1 The story of the old negro who had a newly-painted wagon of which he was very proud. He hitched it to his old mule... The mule balks... So he builds a fire under the mule and the mule moves up four feet and burns the wagon.
1907 Army & Navy Reg. 2 Feb. 5/1 If father is not already busy over that letter I copied and sent him, you ‘build a fire under him’ and see that he goes ahead, instead of backing up.
1983 Social Justice 19 89/2 A couple of us are trying to light a fire under their asses and they say they'll plan something.
2010 Independent 16 Mar. (Life section) 8/2 Their advice was to get the child specialist treatment as soon as possible. ‘That really lit a fire under us,’ says Tamsyn. ‘We realised it was very urgent.’
f. to open fire: to begin firing; to start shooting. Also figurative. In early use also in †to open the (also one's) fire.
ΚΠ
1761 Edinb. Mag. Jan. 47/2 At half past three in the afternoon, she got between..the two headmost ships, and opened her fire upon them.
1777 W. Bradford & J. Hazelwood Let. 11 Oct. in G. Washington Writings (1933) IX. 356 Another party of British approaching, Lt. Col. Smith opened fire upon them.
1841 W. M. Thackeray Hist. Samuel Titmarsh & Great Hoggarty Diamond viii, in Fraser's Mag. Nov. 604/2 Miss Belinda opening the fire, by saying she understood Mrs. Hoggarty had been calumniating her.
1898 Washington Post 15 June 1 Two American cruisers..opened fire against the batteries at the entrance to the harbour at Santiago de Cuba.
1906 Washington Post 17 Mar. 3 With the words: ‘So there you are,’ she pulled the .38 caliber Colt's revolver from her muff and opened fire.
1930 N.Y. Times 1 Mar. 14 Representative La Guardia of New York opened fire in the House today upon what he called the granting of ‘lucrative government subsidies to impecunious, inexperienced and discredited shipping lines’.
2004 Independent (Nexis) 5 Jan. 12 The final straw had been when soldiers opened fire last week on unarmed protesters.
g. to play (also mess) with fire: to take unnecessary or foolish risks; to invite trouble. Often paired with to get burned, expressing inevitability that trouble will result from a particular action.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > be incautious [verb (intransitive)] > be rash or reckless > so as to court disaster
to play (also mess) with firea1325
to ride for a fall1852
to ask for trouble1871
a1325 St. Matthew (Corpus Cambr.) 138 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S. Eng. Legendary (1956) 401 (MED) An hard puf him was blowe aȝen to teche him pleie wiþ fure.
1594 T. Lodge Wounds Ciuill War ii. sig. B4v Both blunt and bold but too much Mother wit; To play with fier where furie streames about, Curtall your tale fond man cut of the rest: But here I will dissemble for the best.
a1652 R. Brome Eng. Moor ii. iii. 34 in Five New Playes (1659) Th'hast play'd with fire; and like a cunning fellow Bit in thy pain o'purpose to deceive Anothers tender touch.
1655 H. Vaughan Silex Scintillans (ed. 2) ii. 15 I..bent to trie All gamesters that would bid. I played with fire, did counsell spurn, Made life my common stake.
1782 J. Wesley Let. 12 July (1931) VII. 129 If you play with fire, will you not be burnt sooner or later?
1876 Methodist Visitor 5 13 Another way in which persons play with fire is by associating with companions who are not what they ought to be.
1887 R. Kipling His Wedded Wife in Civil & Mil. Gaz. 25 Feb. 3/4 There is no sort of use in playing with fire, even for fun.
1907 Daily Chron. 9 Oct. 4/6 I should like to sound a note of warning, for, as one who plays with fire, he can only expect to get burnt.
1957 L. P. Hartley Hireling xix. 149 She led me on, she played with fire, but she wouldn't have me.
2000 Seminole Tribune (Florida) 3 Mar. 9 There are too many teenagers that have the wrong guidance about pregnancy. Bad idea, you mess with fire and you get burned.
2008 C. Simpson Special Operations: Dogfight 180 She was playing with fire, and we all risked getting burned.
h. figurative.
(a) to pull (also snatch) out of the fire: to rescue from (imminent) disaster, ruin, or defeat. Hence in similar phrases. In later use frequently in sporting contexts.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > rescue or deliverance > rescue or deliver (from) [verb (transitive)]
areddec885
leeseOE
reddOE
winc1220
deliver?c1225
ridc1225
quita1250
betellc1275
casta1300
to cast outa1300
liverc1330
rescuec1330
wrechec1330
borrowc1350
to put out of ——c1350
to bring awaya1400
redea1400
wreakc1400
rescourec1425
rescousa1450
savec1480
relue1483
salue1484
redeem1488
recovera1500
redressa1500
eschewc1500
rescours1511
to pull (also snatch) out of the fire1526
recourse1533
withtakec1540
redeem1549
vindicate1568
retire1578
repair1591
reprieve1605
to bring off1609
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Jude 23 Edwother save with feare pullynge them out of the fyre [Gk. ἐκ πυρὸς ἁρπάζοντες].
1604 F. Bacon Apol. conc. Earle of Essex 25 I was stil in watch to find the best occasion that in the weakenesse of my power I could either take or minister, to pull him out of the fire if it had bene possible.
a1652 A. Wilson Hist. Great Brit. (1653) 51 When he came first to the Crown (which he (as it were) snatched out of the fire, the whole Kingdom being in a flame) he was a professed Protestant.
1722 I. Kimber et al. Hist. Eng. III. 43 The King..was not pleas'd that his Son-in-law should snatch a Crown out of the Fire.
1764 tr. Mme de Sévigné Lett. (ed. 2) II. cxv. 129 It is happy for him that he..is recovered: He has been snatched out of the fire; I heartily rejoice with you at it.
1800 R. Heber Let. in A. Heber Life R. Heber (1830) I. i. 21 It were greatly to be wished that the bigoted minority were by some means or other ‘pulled out of the fire’.
1893 H. G. Hutchinson Golfing 85 It is wonderful what matches these strong souls now and again pull out of the fire.
1928 Observer 10 June 27/4 The best snatcher of a match out of the fire that we ever had.
1932 C. L. Morgan Fountain i. i. 9 A man who..pulls a business out of the fire isn't an incompetent.
2006 Independent 29 Sept. 16/1 It could have been awkward but Kevin pulled it out of the fire.
2014 Drogheda Independent (Ireland) (Nexis) 23 Apr. 64 Pat Rooney and..Conor O'Byrne were three down during the match and almost snatched it out of the fire, losing by one hole on the 18th.
(b) to save out of the fire: to salvage or retain as a remnant from disaster or destruction. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > preserve as remnant from disaster
to save out of the fire1700
1700 S. Johnson 2nd Pt. Confut. 63 It is well indeed for us that our Ancestors lived before us, and with the Expence of their Blood recovered the English Rights for us, and saved them out of the Fire.
1776 S. Foote Bankrupt ii. 46 A fine fortune sav'd out of the fire.
1855 A. Trollope Warden xix. 309 To be sure Puddingdale is only four hundred, but that would be saving something out of the fire.
1857 Dublin Univ. Mag. June 749/2 I take leave to save out of the fire the following little batch of Æsopisms, taken down by me from memory as morsels of our friend's wise talk.
1934 T. Slesinger Unpossessed ii. iii. 129 The only thing you've saved out of the fire my dear is your nasty destructive beloved wit.
i. to pull the chestnuts out of the fire and variants: to use another person to undertake the dangerous part of an enterprise.With reference to the fable of a monkey using a cat's paw to extract roasting chestnuts from the fire, and its variations. Cf. cat's paw n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > find means to do something [verb (intransitive)] > be used to undertake something dangerous
to pull the chestnuts out of the fire1642
1586 G. Whitney Choice of Emblemes 58 The ape, did reache for Chestnuttes in the fire,..he with a whelpe did close, And thruste his foote, into the Embers quick, And made him, pull the Chestnuttes out perforce.]
1642 H. Parker Vintners Answer 12 Kilvert intending, as it seems, to pull out the hot Chesnut out of the fire with the Monkeys paw, rather then his own, as the crafty beast did in the Fable, did neverthelesse alter the Petition to the inverting of the sense of it.
1657 Killing is Murder 3 These he useth as the Monkey did the Cats paw, to scrape the nuts out of the fire.
1796 R. C. tr. Princess Coquedoeuf & Prince Bonbon 70 Some folks are made a cat's paw of to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for others to eat.
1886 Pall Mall Gaz. 6 July 14/1 The Unionists have, indeed, pulled the chestnuts out of the fire for Lord Salisbury.
1930 J. C. Snaith Unforeseen ii. xxi, 286 He was the guy who pulled the financial chestnuts out of the fire.
2009 Advertiser (Australia) (Nexis) 4 May 16 The expected call for more Australian troops to pull U.S. chestnuts out of the fire in Afghanistan has come.
j. to set on fire and variants. Cf. on fire at Phrases 3b.
(a) To cause to be ignited; to set alight. Also figurative: to inflame a person's emotions; to excite intensely; to animate. Formerly also †to put on fire.to set the world on fire: see world n. Phrases 24. to set the heather on fire: see heather n. 1b. [Compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French mettre a feu, mettre en feu (1307 or earlier).]
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or consume by fire [verb (transitive)] > set on fire
inflamec1384
to set on firec1384
firec1425
incense1470
esprise1474
succend?a1475
embrase1480
to light upa1500
enfirea1522
ignifya1586
befire1613
incendiatea1701
to touch off1759
conflagrate1835
the mind > emotion > passion > ardour or fervour > ardent or fervent [verb (transitive)] > inflame (with) passion
annealeOE
ontendeOE
anheatOE
atend1006
tindc1175
firec1225
heat?c1225
inlowa1300
inflamea1340
eschaufec1374
flamec1380
kindlec1390
chafe1393
achafea1400
to set a firec1400
lighta1413
incense1435
scaldc1480
embrase1483
incend?1504
to set on fire?1526
enkindle1561
enfire1596
flush1633
boil1649
calenturea1657
infirea1661
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Dan. iii. 19 He bad, that the fourneyse shulde be sette on fijre [L. succenderetur].
c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 3 (MED) And for þoo þre chimneis ich low of þe fendis blowing is sett in fire.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 228 He..sware his goddes that he shuld putte al on fyre.
?1526 P. Bush Extirpacion of Ignorancy Prol. sig. A.iii Perfyte loue, whiche shulde deuout myndes Sette on fyre, in louyng god omnypotent.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cvijv The fortresse..thei toke and set it on fire.
1638 L. Brinckmair Warnings of Germany 52 Many faire Townes were..put on fire, and the Inhabitants thereof most miserably slaughtered.
a1680 S. Charnock Several Disc. Existence of God (1682) 57 Water poured on Lime sets it on fire by an Antiperistasis.
1709 J. Johnson Clergy-man's Vade Mecum: Pt. II p. c The lewd boy..had set his mother's house on fire because she had corrected him.
1781 S. Johnson Addison in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets V. 49 Some unlucky sparkle from a Tory paper set Steele's politicks on fire.
1831 J. L. Comstock Elements of Chem. ii. 181 It was found that a lighted lamp, when completely surrounded with such [fine wire] gauze, might be introduced into an explosive mixture, without setting it on fire.
1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) IV. xvii. 80 Enough was carried beyond the sea to set on fire the minds of all.
1928 Berkeley (Calif.) Daily Gaz. 23 June 1/7 A large stack of hay was completely destroyed..when sparks from cigarettes..set it on fire.
1958 G. Greene Our Man in Havana (1962) 16 ‘But how did she set Earl on fire?’ ‘She put petrol on the tail of his shirt.’
2012 B. P. Beltran Faith & Struggle on Smokey Mountain v. 192 We have a chance to create a future we want to live in..only if we have been set on fire to struggle for the good, the true, the beautiful.
2013 N.Y. Mag. 25 Mar. 39 We lit lots of candles, and I actually set my sleeve on fire!
(b) To become ignited; to start to burn; = to catch fire at catch v. Phrases 5. Also to get on fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or be on fire [verb (intransitive)] > catch fire or begin to burn
quicka1225
kindle?c1225
tindc1290
atend1398
to catch fire (also afire, on fire)c1400
quickenc1425
enkindle1556
fire1565
to set on fire1596
take1612
catch1632
conflagrate1657
to fly on fire1692
to go up1716
deflagrate1752
flagrate1756
inflame1783
ignite1818
to fire up1845
1596 E. L. Romes Monarchie xii. sig. H3v The grudge that smothring lies Within the heart, which canker like doth eate: Vntill such time reuenge, breakes out in heate, And sets on fire, from smoake vnto a flame.
1644 K. Digby Two Treat. i. xvii. 147 The Indian canes..if they be first very dry, will of themselues sett on fire.
1711 Mem. Lit. 1 Oct. (1712) I. 323/2 If you put a lighted Candle, or any thing of Fire to this Hole, the Water immediately sets on fire, and boils like Spirit of Wine or Brandy.
1897 Mid Surrey Times & Gen. Advertiser 23 Oct. If the chimney gets on fire, throw salt on the fire.
1954 Manch. Guardian 29 May 10 Isn't every building, when it gets on fire, a death-trap for firemen?
2012 D. Ford Miles of Thoughts 160 The ‘wick theory’..posits that..the wound surreptitiously secrets subcutaneous fat that..somehow sets on fire.
k. to set the Thames on fire: to do something (impossibly) marvellous or impressive; to work wonders; to distinguish oneself. Also as the type of an impossible task. Chiefly in negative contexts.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > famous or eminent person > be or become eminent [verb (intransitive)]
shinec900
to get (also make) oneself a nameOE
blazea1387
flourisha1387
resound1562
to fame ita1625
to make a noise in the world1662
to make (familiarly to cut) a figure1691
to set the Thames on fire1720
star1815
lionize1834
to make a name for oneself1997
1720 Field cleared of Noble Stand iv. 23 An Outcry which could scarce have been greater or more ridiculous, if the Noble Stand had been reported to have run away with the monument, or set the Thames on fire.
1791 Eng. Freeholder No. 21. 82 The man, whoever he may be, that discovers the longitude, or sets the Thames on fire, will be thought, perhaps, a much more ingenious man than the departed author of those sage and salutary maxims.
1858 A. Trollope Three Clerks I. vii. 127 When Sir Gregory..declared that Mr. Fidus Neverbend would never set the Thames on fire, he meant to express his opinion that that gentleman was a fool.
1883 M. Oliphant Hester III. iv. 75 I might have stood out against Harry, who will never set the Thames on fire; till you came down upon me with your heavy guns.
1959 M. Spark Memento Mori (1961) 10 A lady who once set the whole of the literary world (if not the Thames) on fire.
1987 Observer 18 Jan. 7/2 Wiseacres behind their Smoking Room scotches said that ‘George will never set the Thames on fire,’ but, after Heseltine, who needed to warm their hands?
2006 Hosp. Doctor 29 June 18 The man in charge of NHS reform is Lord Warner... Safe, plodding but never going to set the Thames on fire.
l. to take fire.
(a) To become ignited; to start to burn; = to catch fire at catch v. Phrases 5.
ΚΠ
c1440 S. Scrope tr. C. de Pisan Epist. of Othea (St. John's Cambr.) (1970) 34 The bronde..began to take fire and schewe flaume [Fr. s'esprist et aluma].
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. YYYvi At ye laste they take fyre and bren.
1590 J. Smythe Certain Disc. Weapons 21 Through the moystnes of the weather..the powder will take no fire.
1630 J. Winthrop Jrnl. 9 Apr. (1996) 6 Out of everye shippe were throwne suche bedd mattes as were subiecte to take fire.
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. 89 Dip therein one end of your short Pieces, least they take Fire at both ends together.
1701 J. Gordon Diary 17 May (1949) 103 The beding had taken fire through the negligence of the man imployed to wait upon her.
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 126 The soot took fire.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering I. x. 159 They perceived that she [sc. the ship] grounded, smoked, and, finally, took fire.
1885 Cent. Mag. 29 874/1 These..chimneys..often took fire.
1937 N.Y. Times 8 Jan. 40 The blankets had taken fire from an electric vapor lamp.
1992 S. Holloway Courage High! xxi. 176/2 A large cargo ship took fire for'ard..We put this out in half an hour and then went back to the warehouse.
2014 Philippines News Agency (Nexis) 21 Nov. Before the plane crashed and took fire the drug couriers managed to drop the bags with cocaine.
(b) figurative and in figurative contexts. To become inflamed with a strong emotion, esp. anger; to become intensely animated, excited, or enthused. Also: to escalate rapidly or uncontrollably.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry
wrethec900
wrothc975
abelghec1300
to move one's blood (also mood)c1330
to peck moodc1330
gremec1460
to take firea1513
fumec1522
sourdc1540
spitec1560
to set up the heckle1601
fire1604
exasperate1659
to fire up1779
to flash up1822
to get one's dander up1831
to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832
to have (also get) one's monkey up1833
to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837
rile1837
to go off the handle1839
to flare up1840
to set one's back up1845
to run hot1855
to wax up1859
to get one's rag out1862
blow1871
to get (also have) the pricker1871
to turn up rough1872
to get the needle1874
to blaze up1878
to get wet1898
spunk1898
to see red1901
to go crook1911
to get ignorant1913
to hit the ceiling1914
to hit the roof1921
to blow one's top1928
to lose one's rag1928
to lose one's haira1930
to go up in smoke1933
hackle1935
to have, get a cob on1937
to pop (also blow) one's cork1938
to go hostile1941
to go sparec1942
to do one's bun1944
to lose one's wool1944
to blow one's stack1947
to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950
rear1953
to get on ignorant1956
to go through the roof1958
to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964
to lose ita1969
to blow a gasket1975
to throw a wobbler1985
the mind > emotion > passion > ardour or fervour > become ardent or fervent [verb (intransitive)] > become inflamed with passion
heata1225
tind1297
lowea1333
anheat1340
to catch firec1400
kindlea1450
to take firea1513
inflame1559
broil1561
calenturea1657
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. clxxxxviiiv/2 Whiche Conclucion was after disalowyd..whiche kyndelyd a newe brande of burnyng Enuy atwene the Lorde Protectour & hym and toke fyre in suche wyse that it left nat tyll both parties with many other were consumyd and slayne.
?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter xxxix. 111 My hart within was set on heate: thus musing fire it tooke: My tong brake out, some thyng to treate: then silence I forsooke.
1607 G. Wilkins Miseries Inforst Mariage sig. A3 On which Tinder he soones takes fire and sweares you are the Man his hopes shot at.
1658 R. Allestree Pract. Christian Graces; or, Whole Duty of Man x. §22. 224 Such an angriness of humour, that we take fire of every thing.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 392. ⁋3 His splenetick contracted Temper made him take fire immediately.
1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. III. liv. 171 The Commons took fire, and voted it a breach of privilege.
1844 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VIII. lxii. 177 Cleomenes took fire at the affront.
1890 Temple Bar June 17 Lithgow's soul took fire with sympathy.
1941 J. Agate Diary 19 Jan. in Selective Ego (1976) 138 I must not judge Pam by her performance to-night,..she needs an audience, when she takes fire in all sorts of unexpected ways.
1963 J. Monaghan et al. Bk. of Amer. West xxx. 134 The national bicycle craze took fire with the mass-production of Colonel Albert Pope's ‘Columbia’ safety bicycle in Boston in 1877.
1989 Princeton Alumni Weekly 8 Mar. 48/2 Their imagination took fire when they read it.
P3. Preceded by a preposition.
a. between two fires: in a position of being attacked or assaulted with firearms from two opposing directions. Also figurative and in figurative contexts. [After French entre deux feux (1685 in the passage translated in quot. 1686); with figurative uses compare earlier between two waters at water n. Phrases 1b.]
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > there is danger in a course of action [phrase] > in a dangerous situation
through fire (and water)eOE
waterOE
near the fire1560
between two fires1686
the world > action or operation > difficulty > [phrase] > in a difficult position
between the beetle and the block1590
between two fires1885
(crushed, etc.) between the upper and the nether millstones1902
between a rock and a hard place1921
in the middle1930
1686 tr. J. de Préchac Serasquier Bassa 116 An Assault was no longer to be thought of, since they could not give it without exposing themselves to be all lost, nor avoid fighting between two Fires [Fr. entre deux feux].
1757 W. Smith Rev. Mil. Operations N.-Amer. 132 Bradstreet in an instant landed upon the island, to prevent being inclosed between two fires.
1825 tr. J. Fouché Mem. II. 164 Shall we be between two fires; between the howitzers of your dear Bernadotte and the bombs of my most excellent friend Schwartzenberg!
1885 Times 20 Feb. 5/6 He was about to find himself placed between two fires—viz. the Mahdi and the reinforced garrison of Metammeh.
1979 M. Tlali Muriel at Metrop. xi. 81 I'm not happy here, Douglas, I'm between two fires. My own people on the one hand, and the white staff on the other.
1985 M. Van Creveld Command in War iv. 118 Whatever plans Moltke may have hatched for catching the Austrians between two fires, they were not understood by the rest of the Prussian High Command.
b. on fire (formerly also †on a fire, †of a fire, †in a fire). Cf. to set on fire at Phrases 2j.
(a) Chiefly with reference to destructive conflagration (see sense A. 4): in a state of combustion, burning; in flames. Cf. afire adv. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > [adjective]
irrec825
gramec893
wemodc897
wrothc950
bolghenc1000
gramelyc1000
hotOE
on fireOE
brathc1175
moodyc1175
to-bollenc1175
wrethfulc1175
wraw?c1225
agrameda1300
wrathfula1300
agremedc1300
hastivec1300
irousa1340
wretheda1340
aniredc1350
felonc1374
angryc1380
upreareda1382
jealous1382
crousea1400
grieveda1400
irefula1400
mada1400
teena1400
wraweda1400
wretthy14..
angryc1405
errevousa1420
wrothy1422
angereda1425
passionatec1425
fumous1430
tangylc1440
heavy1452
fire angry1490
wrothsomea1529
angerful?1533
wrothful?1534
wrath1535
provoked1538
warm1547
vibrant1575
chauffe1582
fuming1582
enfeloned1596
incensed1597
choleric1598
inflameda1600
raiseda1600
exasperate1601
angried1609
exasperated1611
dispassionate1635
bristlinga1639
peltish1648
sultry1671
on (also upon) the high ropes (also rope)1672
nangry1681
ugly1687
sorea1694
glimflashy1699
enraged1732
spunky1809
cholerous1822
kwaai1827
wrathy1828
angersome1834
outraged1836
irate1838
vex1843
raring1845
waxy1853
stiff1856
scotty1867
bristly1872
hot under the collar1879
black angry1894
spitfire1894
passionful1901
ignorant1913
hairy1914
snaky1919
steamed1923
uptight1934
broigus1937
lemony1941
ripped1941
pissed1943
crooked1945
teed off1955
ticked off1959
ripe1966
torqued1967
bummed1970
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > on fire [phrase]
on fireOE
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 140 Man worhte þa micel fyr.., and þa spearcan wundon wið þæs rofes swyðe, oð þæt þæt hus færlice eall on fyre wearð.
a1350 Body & Soul (Harl. 2253) l. 59 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 130 Þe world shal al o fure ben.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 2470 Fest I all on [a1500 Trin. Dublin in] a fire þe foly is ȝoure awen.
1516 Kalendre Newe Legende Eng. (Pynson) f. lxxxxi He sawe his castell on fyre.
a1653 Z. Boyd Flowers of Zion in Last Battle Soul (1831) p. xxvii/2 While I unto the plaines of Sodom look, Of fire and brimstone I doe see the smoke; All's in a fire.
1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World xv. 414 The Sea seemed all of a Fire about us.
1759 Ann. Reg. 1758 306/1 The fore part of our ship, the Prince George, was on fire.
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna vi. iv. 130 For to the North I saw the town on fire.
1891 Independent (N.Y.) 26 Nov. 27/2 Duluth, Minn., which always does things in a big way, recently had an immense pile of coal on fire.
1942 ‘B. Knight’ Sun climbs Slowly xviii. 154 The veld is on fire.
1979 Associated Press Newswire 15 Dec. The pilot's instrument panel indicated it [sc. the engine] may have been on fire.
2004 Trailer Life Feb. 66 A sight to see, surely, is a tumbling tumbleweed on fire.
(b) figurative and in figurative contexts. In a heightened state of emotion or activity; inflamed with passion, anger, zeal, etc.; enthused; inspired. Later also (colloquial): on a run of success; performing at a very high level.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > passion > ardour or fervour > [adjective] > inflamed with passion
fire-hotOE
eschaufedc1374
on firea1393
inflammatec1450
inflamed1526
enkindled1549
boiling1579
seething1590
heated1595
red-hot1598
aflame1632
on flame1656
ablaze1819
burnt1859
incandescent1859
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 16 Ire, Whos herte is everemore on fyre To speke amis and to do bothe, For his servantz ben evere wrothe.
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique ii. f. 73v No mannes nature is so apt, streight to be heated, except the Orator himself, be on fire, and bryng his heate with hym.
a1643 J. Shute Sarah & Hagar (1649) 148 Certainly, if God's mercy be in a fire, our thankfulness must not be in a frost.
1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 151 They were all on Fire to fall on.
1782 E. Pendleton Let. 19 Aug. in Lett. & Papers (1967) II. 404 Be this as it may the crisis is important, and my anxiety on fire, 'til I know the event.
1816 J. Austen Emma III. iii. 43 How much more must an imaginist, like herself, be on fire with speculation and foresight!
1939 J. B. Morton Bonfire of Weeds i. 21 I got some English newspapers, since I was all on fire to know whether the trousers I brought with me to Ireland are still fashionable.
1951 N.Y. Amsterdam News 18 Aug. 18/2 Any time a man is banging away at a production rate of better than a homer a day, he's on fire.
1999 News of World 3 Oct. 81/2 [Racehorse trainer] Nigel Twiston-Davies is on fire over the jumps.
2004 B. DeMarco-Barrett (title) Pen on fire: a busy woman's guide to igniting the writer within.
c. through fire (and water): with a verb of motion, as go, follow, run, etc., denoting the facing of a severe ordeal or great danger, esp. for another. Chiefly in hypothetical and conditional contexts.Originally with reference to Psalm 66:12.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > there is danger in a course of action [phrase] > in a dangerous situation
through fire (and water)eOE
waterOE
near the fire1560
between two fires1686
eOE (Mercian) Vespasian Psalter (1965) lxv. 11 (12) Transiuimus per ignem et aquam : we leordun ðorh fyr & weter.
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 110 Ða stodan þa halgan hale of þam fyre glitiniende swa swa gold, þus herigende God, Transiuimus per ignem et aquam, et eduxisti nos in refrigerium, We ferdon þurh fyr and wæter, and þu us læddest on celincge.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms lxv. 12 Wee passiden thurȝ fyr and watir; and thou broȝtist out vs in to refreshing.
1532 G. Hervet tr. Xenophon Treat. House Holde f. 63 They that can brynge theyr soudiours in to suche affection and beleue, that they wolde gladly folowe them throughe fyre and water, and through all maner of daunger.
1567 J. Pikering Newe Enterlude Vice sig. C.jv Be thou lybraull to thy men, and gentell be also, For yt way at thy wil thou mayst, haue them through fire to go.
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. ii. 109 Runne through fire, I will for thy sweete sake. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iii. iv. 103 A woman would run through fire & water for such a kinde heart. View more context for this quotation
1735 C. Coffey Merry Cobler viii. 22 I wou'd go through Fire and Water for your dear Ladyship's Love.
a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 55 The Laird o' Blackbyre wad gang through the fire, If that wad entice her awa, man.
1814 R. Churton Let. 25 Mar. in Heber Lett. (1950) viii. 265 If your principles..are as I trust firmly and constitutionally settled on this fundamental point in our Protestant Government, I could go through fire and water to serve you.
1874 A. Trollope Phineas Redux I. xxix. 245 Because a man greases his whiskers, and colours his hair, and paints his eyebrows, and wears kid gloves, by George, they'll go through fire and water after him.
1904 Temple Bar Dec. 662 As Murbach, one of the violins, said, they would have gone through fire for him [sc. Wagner].
1944 Times 4 Oct. 7/6 In the battlefield his men would follow him through fire and water. His drive and spirit infected them all.
2009 R. Mohn Global Lesson 66 During those tempestuous postwar years they would have gone through fire for me.
d. under fire.
(a) Under attack by artillery, firearms, etc.; when or while being attacked in this way.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > criticism > [adjective] > criticized
under fire1777
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > [adverb] > under fire
under fire1777
1777 London Gaz. No. 11831. It was found impossible to secure the Provisions any otherwise than by landing them and carrying them upon the Hill: This was effected under Fire, and with great Difficulty.
1811 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) VII. 568 We do what we please now with the Portuguese troops: we manœuvre them under fire equally with our own.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 280 Most of Mackay's men had never before been under fire.
1915 R. Leighton Let. 1 May in V. Brittain et al. Lett. Lost Generation (2012) 119 The man had been recommended for the D.C.M. for laying a telephone wire under fire a week or two ago. It is such a pity that he could not live to wear it.
1943 Washington Post 28 June b6 Technical Sgt. Clifford T. Erickson..learned to pilot a Flying Fortress while under fire and then saved the bomber and its crew.
2010 S. Junger War i. iv. 59 Restrepo was extremely well liked because he was brave under fire and absolutely committed to the men.
(b) figurative and in extended use: subject to intense criticism, abuse, etc. Also in under a fire of.
ΚΠ
1886 ‘M. Twain’ Let. 19 Mar. in Lett. to Publishers (1967) 196 It isn't good policy for anybody connected with our publishing firm to be under a fire of newspaper criticism this year.
1926 Eastern Province Herald (Port Elizabeth) 12 Feb. 7 (heading) Liquor bill under fire.
1965 New Statesman 19 Mar. 430/3 Their chief..has recently been under fire because it appeared he had joined the Nazi Party in his student days.
1990 Sun 20 Oct. 31/3 Chapman, a £400,000 buy from Nottingham Forest, has come under fire from the fans for notching just three goals this season.
2013 Independent (Nexis) 16 Nov. (Mag.) 12 She rose and strode off the train, leaving me under a fire of accusing looks.
e. where's the fire?: (as a humorous interrogative) ‘what's the hurry?’
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > with rapid action [phrase] > in haste or in a hurry > what is the hurry?
where's the fire?1924
1924 P. Creswick Beaten Path xxxvi. 195 A husky voice enquired of me: ‘Where's the fire?’
1963 J. F. Straker Final Witness xvi. 174 ‘Where's the fire, dear boy?’ he drawled. ‘Do we really have to run for it?’
2002 J. Cartwright White Lightning xvi. 134 As I arrive panting at the car, there are some young Coloured boys standing idly... ‘Where's the fire, Oom?’ one asks me.
P4. In collocation with another noun.
a. fire in the (also one's) belly: passion or drive, esp. to do or achieve something; motivation, ambition.
ΚΠ
1866 Reader 20 Dec. 1032/2 There is in his agonies a touch of the devotee who..finds fire in his belly to burn up the sins of the world.
1911 O. W. Holmes Let. 8 Mar. in F. Biddle Mr. Justice Holmes (1942) 138 Life is a romantic business..but you have to make the romance, and it will finally come to the question of how much fire you have in your belly.
1951 N. Annan Leslie Stephen ix. 275 There is no fire in the belly, no sense of urgency.
1970 Guardian 10 Aug. 9/8 Her success is due, she says, ‘to the fact that I have fire in my belly’.
2010 Crisis Spring 9/1 She's walking proof that with a little fire in the belly and support, dreams for success come true.
†b. Paired in allusive expressions with flax or tow as an example of two things that should not be brought into proximity; esp. in to put fire to flax (also tow) and variants: to do or say something that may cause trouble, controversy, or upset. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 89 Peril is bothe fyr and tow tassemble.
?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 25 (MED) It will make her do and thenke the worse, as it were to putte fere in flexe.
1545 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus Prouerbes (new ed.) f. liv Put not fyer to fyer..This prouerbe is touched in Englyshe where it is sayde, that we ought not to put fyre to towe.
1592 J. Case in N. Breton Pilgrimage to Paradise sig. ¶3v This were to put fire to flaxe, and to offer soft bleeding harts as sacrifice to Cupids bowe and arrowes.
1639 J. Clarke Paroemiologia 197 Put not fire to flax—pouder to pitch.
1890 News & Observer (Raleigh, N. Carolina) 2 July It is reckless to put fire and tow so close together.
c. Chiefly literary and poetic.
(a) heaven's fire (also heaven fire, heavenly fire, fire of heaven): lightning. Cf. sense A. 7d, levin-fire n. at levin n. Compounds 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [noun] > lightning > bead or forked lightning > St. Elmo's fire
heaven's fireOE
St. Elmo's fire1561
Hermes' fire1611
corposant1650
furole1656
Castor1708
composant1751
storm-light1843
storm-firea1847
dead-fire1854
witch-fire1892
OE Homily (Corpus Cambr. 421) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 262 Swylce eac be ðam hean muntum and dunum..heo beoð genehhe mid heofenfyre [c1175 Bodl. 343 heofenlice fure] geþreade and geþræste and mid ligum geslægene.
a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Lamb.) l. 76 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 165 Sunne & mone & houen fur boð þestre aȝein his lihte.
c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) l. 1221 Doun cam the reyn..With heuenys fer.
1633 P. Fletcher Purple Island v. iii. 47 So shall my flagging Muse to heav'n aspire..And warm her pineons at that heav'nly fire.
1839 U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. Feb. 210 Heaven's fire, which, through the scudding rack, The signal of the coming thunder's crack, Lights up the dark abyss.
1920 J. Conrad Rescue (1923) ii. 80 All this [sc. the shoreline]..appearing unscathed and motionless under hooked darts of flame, like some legendary country of immortals, withstanding the wrath and fire of Heaven.
2004 P. Quarrington Storm Chasers (2005) 21 The strike was nowhere near the boat, or else they'd all be dead. But Caldwell knew he'd been hit. He felt heaven's fire course through his body.
(b) fires of heaven (also heavenly fires): the stars. Cf. sense A. 7c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > star > [noun]
stareOE
starnc1175
lamp1423
aster1603
spangle1605
fires of heaven1609
asterism1657
sunleta1854
1609 T. Heywood Troia Britanica xiii. sig. Ee6 Achilles eye fixt on a brighter starre Then any shines, fixt mongst the heauenly fires, The rarest Pollixene alone admires.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) i. v. 10 Or by the fires of heauen, Ile leaue the Foe. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 256 Before him burn Seaven Lamps as in a Zodiac representing The Heav'nly fires . View more context for this quotation
1737 H. Baker Medulla Poetarum Romanorum I. 253 The starry Lamps shall combat in the Sky, And lost, and blended in each other, die: Quench'd in the Deep the heavenly Fires shall fall.
1761 W. J. Mickle in Scots Mag. Dec. 654/1 Wisdom, you boast, to you is given; At night, then, view the fires of heaven, And let thy mind explore; Swift as the lightning let it fly, From star to star, from sky to sky.
1889 Pop. Sci. Monthly June 197 A hymn which he addressed to the gods mentions the moon with icy rays to signalize its powerlessness against the divine fires of heaven.
1892 Jrnl. Anthropol. Inst. 21 23 He transformed himself into a large eagle, stole the sun.., also the fire stick that was used to kindle the heavenly fires, and flew over the walls of heaven.
1977 Courier-Index (Marianna, Arkansas) 8 Dec. 2/5 Heavenly fires bring beauty to the night.
2004 T. Andrews Wonders of Sky v. 89 The Milky Way looked like..a sparkling road, a road lit by heavenly fires that guided people from one world to the next.
d. Alchemy. fire of Hell: alkahest, a hypothetical universal solvent; = alkahest n. 1 (cf. firewater n. 1). Now historical. [Apparently after post-classical Latin ignis gehennae (J.B. van Helmont a1644), specific use of ignis gehennae , variant of gehenna ignis the fire which rages in hell (see hell-fire n.).]
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > alchemy > other alchemical substances or theories > [noun] > universal solvent
fireOE
philosophers' vinegar1612
alkahest1651
fire of Hell1658
firewater1664
philosophical vinegar1694
1658 G. Starkey Natures Explic. 241 The sweet oyl..by cohobation with the fire of Hell (that is, the Alchahest) becomes volatile.
1839 K. Grant Hooper's Lexicon Medicum (ed. 7) 756/2 Ignis gehannæ, the fire of hell. The universal solvent was so called by the alchemists.
1994 W. R. Newman Gehennical Fire v. 181 Starkey's work on the alchahest..reflects the fullness of his debt to Van Helmont. The Belgian alchemist had called his mysterious solvent ignis gehennae, the fire of Hell, in reference to its ability to purge all substances of their superfluity by reducing them to their primum ens.
†e. at fire's-length: at a safe distance in the event of fire. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > distance or farness > a long way off [phrase] > out of range or reach > out of range of fire
at fire's-length1862
1862 H. Marryat One Year in Sweden II. 428 Wooden houses, wisely placed at fire's-length from each other.
f. Proverb. a soft fire makes sweet malt: acting with gentleness or deliberation will achieve the desired or best outcome. Cf. softly, softly, catchee monkey at softly adv. Phrases 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > with caution [phrase] > admonition to proceed cautiously
a soft fire makes sweet malt1532
softly1832
1532 R. Whitford Pype or Tonne f. lxxxvv They say therfore in an other prouerbe that softe fyre: maketh swete malte.
a1550 in R. Dyboski Songs, Carols & Other Misc. Poems (1908) 128 A softe fire makith swete malte.
1575 T. Tymme tr. A. Marlorat Catholike & Eccles. Expos. Iohn xx. 588/2 In ciuill matters too much hast is reproued by this prouerbe, A softe fyre maketh sweete malte: that is to saye, thou muste not be too rashe, nor too slowe: but make hast, not with rashnesse, but wyth consultation.
1616 J. Deacon Tobacco Tortured 2 Pause (I pray thee) a little. For as soft fire maketh sweete mault: so, the hastie man (we see) doth seldome want woe.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. iii. 258 Soft fire, They say, does make sweet mault.
1710 W. Stephens Dick & Tom 8 Things must be done by degrees, Tom. Soft Fire makes sweet Malt.
1830 New Monthly Mag. 29 356 Soft fire, they say, makes sweet malt; and the flexible, insinuating politician will often conquer a portion of his object, where he who plays for all or nothing, will be sure of getting only the latter.
1924 J. M. Whitham Windlestraw vii. 58 Soft fire maketh sweet malt, and say your prayers and grow into a faithful humble man and live in accord.
2010 States News Service (Nexis) 21 Dec. Those people are perfectionists. They are afraid of failures and believe that ‘Soft fire makes sweet malt’.
g. Proverb.
(a) (there is) no smoke without fire and variants: used to imply that a rumour or accusation does not arise without cause or basis. [Compare Old French ou n'a feu, ne fumee ‘where there is no fire, there is no smoke’ and nul feu est sens fumee ne fumee sens feu ‘no fire is without smoke nor smoke without fire’ (both 13th cent.; compare French n’y a pas de fumée sans feu ‘there is no smoke without fire’, and variants (1625)) and also classical Latin flamma fūmō est proxima ‘the flame is next to the smoke’ (Plautus).]
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > [phrase] > other phrases or sayings
there is no smoke without firec1422
straw1835
the style is the man1901
c1422 T. Hoccleve Dialogus (Durh.) l. 683 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 134 Wher no fyr maad is, may no smoke aryse.
1534 C. St. German Addicions of Salem & Byzance sig. Cv As the common prouerbe is trewe, that there is neuer smoke withoute somme fyre, so is hit trewe, that this reporte is not rysen withoute somme cause.
1608 T. James Apol. Wickliffe 56 Because there can be no smoke, without some fire, I wil..informe you of the ground of this their accusation.
1670 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Prov. 143 No smoke without some fire, i.e. There is no strong rumour without some ground for it.
1786 Mem. Social Monster 153 They have generally..so much learning as to know, that there is no smoke without fire; and have also sagacity enough to conceive, that wherever there is a fire, there is certainly a smoke.
1888 F. Hume Madame Midas ii. xii. 188 ‘There is no smoke without fire,’ replied Rolleston, sagely.
1972 G. M. Brown Greenvoe (1976) i. 17 Now, Tom, we know Eddie Ainslie is if not a liar exactly, a gross exaggerator, but there's no smoke without fire and it could be that you are hard up.
2008 L. Rettig Jumping to Confusions xxii. 299 Tessa is refusing to believe that Josh isn't gay. She says there's no smoke without fire and he'll come out of the closet one day.
(b) (there is) no fire without smoke and variants: a good thing also has its disadvantages. [Compare Old French nul feu est sens fumee ne fumee sens feu (see (there is) no smoke without fire), feus n'iert ja sans fumée ‘there are no fires without smoke’ (early 14th cent), French il n'y a pas de feu sans fumée ‘there is no fire without smoke’, and variants (16th cent. in Middle French).]
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > disadvantageously [phrase] > everything has some disadvantage
(there is) no fire without smoke1546
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. v. sig. Hiiv There is no fyre without some smoke.
1592 T. Nashe Strange Newes Sig. H3 There is no fire without some smoke; no complaint without some precedent cause of aggreeuance.
1596 ‘L. Pyott’ tr. A. Sylvain Orator xx. 124 In such assemblies there are some bad, like as there is no corne without darnell, no wine without lees, nor anie fire without smoake.
1650 J. Wright tr. J.-P. Camus Loving Enemie 79 Prickles still accompany Loves roses, and fire cannot be without some smoak.
1681 M. Charlton in R. Baxter Breviate Life Margaret Charlton iv. 43 Where we can have no fire without smoak, and our dearest friends must be our greatest grief.
1771 E. Barker New & Easy Gram. Eng. Tongue (ed. 2) 330 He who will enjoy the fire, must bear with the smoke. Or, There's no fire without some smoke, Non vi ha rosa senza spina.
1853 True Briton 27 Oct. 194/1 There is no fire without smoke; and large masses of men, such as the engineers, who were recently combating with their masters..indicates serious social disorganisation.
1987 M. Amis Einstein's Monsters 20 There is no fire without smoke. How long will it take us to grasp that nuclear weapons are not weapons, that they are..booby-traps.
2015 Daily Independent (Lagos) (Nexis) 30 Jan. There's no fire without smoke. For every marriage and journey, there are moments of storm.
h.
(a) fire and (the) sword (also fire and iron) and variants: slaughter and destruction; (in later use) esp. an exercise of extreme military force against an enemy (frequently in to put to fire and sword). Also in weakened use: severe or drastic action. Cf. iron and fire at iron n.1 2a.
ΚΠ
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 1237 (MED) Oþer mid fure oþer mid swerd bringe he wolde al out.
1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 13 He is entrid into her royame in armes destroyng all to fore him with fyre & swerde he is comen and hath besiegid her in her cyte of Oliferne.
1521 tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Cyte of Ladyes ii. lxvi. sig. Q.iv Hanyball greued so moche the Romaynes by fyre and yren, yt he despoyled almost all Italy of men & of goodes.
1581 W. Raleigh Let. 25 Feb. (1999) 6 She shall at last be driven by to dere experience to send an Inglyshe presedent to follow thes mallicious traytors with fier and sword, nether respectinge the aliance nor the nation.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. vii. 269 In euerie place nothing but fire and sword.
1668 W. K. Eng. Answer Sc. Speech 7 I must agree with you herein, that fire and iron cannot work upon mens souls: but yet let me tell you, they have been found more effectual then love and pity.
1724 T. Richers tr. Hist. Royal Geneal. Spain 53 They..put all to Fire and Sword.
1830 Westm. Rev. 13 313 ‘The dissolution of social order,’ which our fire-and-sword logicians so long and confidently preached.
1871 Austrian Med. Gaz. Jan. 2/2 Sword and fire is a danger inherent to war, and is the first thing a brave army like the French army take as a matter of course.
1939 Florida: Guide to Southernmost State (Federal Writers' Project) iii. 383 He put to fire and sword those who resisted.
1992 E. Pearce Election Rides xvi. 155 By all accounts the sort of woman given to ruling provinces with fire and iron.
2006 Times Educ. Suppl. (Nexis) 3 Nov. 24 It is ridiculous to describe the General Teaching Council's regulatory work as a witch-hunt. The GTC does not go about putting down teachers with fire and the sword.
(b) Scots Law. letters (or commissions) of fire and sword: orders issued by the Privy Council authorizing a sheriff to use any necessary force to prosecute an action against a person deemed to be in rebellion against the government. Also occasionally in singular. Now historical.Frequently used as a device to further a cause in disputes between Highland clans in the 16th and 17th centuries.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > process, writ, warrant, or order > [noun] > writ > other writs compelling or empowering sheriff
withernam1292
exigenta1325
scire facias1445
fieri-facias?1463
distringas1467
compulsorya1513
praemunirea1529
writ of waste1528–30
exigi facias1589
liberate1590
justicies1592
peremptory1606
pone1607
pone per vadium1607
levari faciasa1625
letters (or commissions) of fire and sword1678
1678 G. Mackenzie Laws & Customes Scotl. i. vi. 46 They were accounted open and notorious Rebels, for Letters of Fire and Sword are only granted against such.
1678 G. Mackenzie Laws & Customes Scotl. i. vi. 45 The commission of Fire and Sword did not add any thing to the Crime committed..: For the design of such Letters is only to warrand and command the Liedges to prosecute them as Rebels.
1693 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. (ed. 2) iv. xxxviii. §27 662 Letters of Fire and Sword are given out against them.
1721 R. Wodrow Hist. Sufferings Church of Scotl. I. v. iii. 137 They..grant a Commission to some Persons to..take in Forts, raze Houses, &c. in the common Form of Commissions of Fire and Sword, as they are ordinarily called.
a1768 J. Erskine Inst. Law Scotl. (1773) II. iv. iii. §17 691 If a party was so obstinate as to..continue his possession in despite of the law, the Scots privy council..granted letters of fire and sword, authorising the sheriff to..dispossess him by all the methods of force.
1859 R. Chambers Domest. Ann. Scotl. (ed. 2) II. 371 Argyle..succeeded ultimately in obtaining a letter of fire and sword against them.
1894 Glasgow Herald 29 Sept. 8/3 The writ of extermination called ‘letters of fire and sword’, submitted to and signed by King William, was the ordinary writ granted to chiefs who had ingratiated themselves with Government.
1966 J. Prebble Glencoe i. 45 As a remedy, the issue of Letters of Fire and Sword was understandably often worse than the malady.
1997 R. Williams Heather & Gale ii. 14 Through..the intricacies of Lowland law—or more drastically by commissions of fire and sword—the Campbell power crept inexorably across the old territories of the Lordship.
2006 Scotsman (Nexis) 10 Aug. 27 In 1663, the Privy Council in Edinburgh issued letters of ‘fire and sword’ against the offenders, who were tracked down by the clan [sc. the MacDonalds] and duly dispatched. But can the Scottish Executive still issue letters of ‘fire and sword’?
i. weapon of fire: = firearm n. Now historical. [Probably after Middle French arme à feu (see firearm n.).]
ΚΠ
1590Weapons of fire [see sense A. 10b].
1618 R. M. Newes of Sr. Walter Rauleigh 26 Euery one that vseth any weapon of fire, bee it Musket or other Piece, shall keepe it cleane.
a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) i. iv. 94 I landed with thirty of my mariners, some arm'd with weapons of fire and the rest with halberds and pikes.
1801 T. Roberts Eng. Bowman ii. 40 Harquebusseers and musketeers with their weapons of fire, do no ways terrify neither horses nor men..; unless by great chance, they happen to be stricken with bullets.
1838 Weekly Christian Teacher 1 Dec. 8/2 Men were then armed with bows and arrows, instead of weapons of fire.
1995 D. Eltis Mil. Revol. 16th Cent. Europe iv. 76 A simple trench defended by firearms and artillery was a formidable obstacle. How much more so a fortress specifically designed to give full play to these weapons of fire.
P5. baptism of fire: see baptism n. 2b. a brand from the fire: see brand n. 3b. a burnt child dreads the fire: see burnt adj. 3b. false fire: see false adj. 14b. the fat is in the fire: see fat n.2 3c. out of the frying pan into the fire: see frying pan n. Phrases. to hang fire: see hang v. 6a. like a house on fire: see house n.1 and int. Phrases 1h. Kentish fire: see Kentish adj. and n. Compounds 2. fire is a good servant but a bad master: see master n.1 2b. to miss fire: see miss v.1 15a. running fire: see running adj. Compounds 3b. to smite fire: see smite v. Phrases 4. to strike fire: see strike v. 30a(a).

Compounds

C1.
a. attributive.
(a) With the sense ‘of or made of fire’.
fire beacon n. [compare Dutch vuurbaken (already in Middle Dutch in more general sense), vuurbaak , Middle Low German vǖrbāke , all denoting kinds of seamark; in 1584 after Dutch vuurboet, †vierbot (now regional; Middle Dutch vuurboete), in the same sense]
ΚΠ
1584 R. Norman tr. C. Antoniszoon Safegard of Sailers f. 23 If you will anker in the Fossis by Fecam, you shall bring the mill and the fire beacon [Du. vierbode] in one, and keeping them so, go in west to the single, and anker betweene the head of the Hordelles and Reihem.
1625 A. Darcie tr. W. Camden Hist. Elizabeth iii. 22 The fire-beacons giuing light by night, which were to direct them by their Sea-markes ouer the Shallowes, and by the Shelues, bankes, & Rocks.
1804 Edinb. Rev. 3 430 The Amonian firebeacons.
1971 Country Life 30 Sept. 788/2 The Romans established fire-beacon signal stations along our east and south coasts.
2012 Xinhua Gen. News Service (Nexis) 4 June The Queen lit a fire beacon, the final beacon in a series of 4,200 beacons to be lit in celebration [of the diamond jubilee] across Britain and the Commonwealth.
fire chariot n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > carriage for conveying persons > [noun] > types of carriage > chariot > fiery
fire chariot1609
1609 W. Cowper Three Heauenly Treat. Romanes i. 196 That fire Chariot in the which Eliah was carried from earth to heauen.
a1843 R. Southey Common-place Bk. (1849) 2nd Ser. 391/2 Elijah dropping his cloak as the fire-chariot carries him away.
2010 Western Morning News (Nexis) 3 Apr. 4 Mr Kemp..ignited the metal Fire Chariot outside his studio high on cliffs at Botallack in West Cornwall.
† fire-crag n. poetic Obsolete rare
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > crag > [noun] > overhanging > specific
fire-crag1820
1820 P. B. Shelley Prometheus Unbound iv. i. 139 The caverns of my hollow mountains, My cloven fire-crags.
1862 Duffy's Hibernian Mag. May 432 May the master fiend chain them to the fire-crags, whilst grass shall grow and water run!
fire-flame n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [noun] > flame or blaze
leye971
blazeOE
lowec1175
flamec1384
fire-flamea1450
burning1695
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Merlin (1932) III. l. 24520 (MED) The dragown..Fyr flaumes out castyng.
1660 H. More Explan. Grand Myst. Godliness vi. xviii. 272 A sword..which was altogether a glowing fire, glisning & crackling very terribly with many fire-flames.
1828 S. T. Coleridge Day Dream in Bijou 147 The shadows..By the still dancing fire-flames made.
1997 GQ Sept. 247/2 With..fire-flames on anything from cars to trainers, hot rod culture is truly out of the garage.
fire-flash n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [noun] > lightning > bead or forked lightning > flash of
laitc900
slaughta1300
levinc1300
fire-slaughta1400
flaughta1400
thunderboltc1440
fudder1513
fire-flaughta1522
flag of firea1522
bolt1535
strokea1542
lightning bolta1560
lightning1560
fire-bolt?1562
fulgur1563
fulmen1563
thunder-thump1563
light-bolt1582
fire-flash1586
blaze1590
flake1590
clap1591
blastc1665
glade1744
streak1781
thunder-ball1820
leader stroke1934
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > thunder and lightning > [noun] > lightning > flash of
laitc900
flakec1400
fire-flaughta1522
flag of firea1522
lightning1560
fire-flash1586
blaze1590
fulguration1614
fulgurity1623
flaughta1724
glade1744
streak1781
the world > matter > light > light emitted in particular manner > [noun] > gleam, glimmer, or flicker > of a fire
fire-flash1842
1586 C. Fetherstone tr. F. Hotman (title) Brutish Thunderbolt or rather Feeble Fier-Flash of Pope Sixtus the fift, against Henrie..of Nauarre.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. i. 35 Earthquakes, thunder, and fire-flashes.
1842 R. H. Barham Smuggler's Leap in Ingoldsby Legends 2nd Ser. 159 The fire-flash shines from Reculver cliff.
2014 Sunday Times (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 27 Apr. She hears the explosion seconds after she sees the fire-flash.
† fire-glance n. Obsolete rare
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [noun] > sunlight or sunshine > ray of
beamc885
sunbeamOE
sunray1596
fire-glance1662
streamer1697
sunglade1832
sun-darta1835
sun shaft1837
1662 J. Sparrow tr. J. Böhme Of Four Complexions iii. 27 in tr. J. Böhme Remainder of Bks. Here the Devill cometh in an Angelicall form of Light; In a fire-Glance or Lustre [Ger. fewer glantz], indeed he tickleth the poor soul, so that it helpeth it self with the Glance or Lustre of the fire [Ger. fewer schein].
1826 F. D. Hemans League of Alps iv. 7 Where the sun's red fire-glance earliest fell.
fire glow n.
ΚΠ
1653 tr. J. Böhme Consideration upon Bk. Esaias Stiefel 25 A man..understandeth the Soul by the fire-glow [Ger. Fewerglut]; for it is..God the Fathers Eternal Nature, brought from the Spirit of God out of the Fathers Property into the outward Created Image.
1880 Harper's Mag. June 133/2 Here was the parlor, and the feeding-place, and the warm dance of the fire-glow.
2009 D. Thompson Lord of Forest ii. 17 How fair she was, seen by fire glow, flushed from the chase.
fire heat n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > [noun] > heat of a fire or conflagration
fire-broil1582
fire heat1659
1659 S. Rutherford Infl. Life of Grace ii. iii. 151 All the fire-heat on Earth cannot restore vital heat to a dead man.
1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. 65 Fire-heat at 212° of Fahrenheit produced detonation.
1997 W. J. Bond in R. M. Cowling et al. Vegetation S. Afr. (2003) xviii. 428/2 Some plants..survive fires if shoot apices are not damaged by fire heat.
fire mist n.
ΚΠ
1844 R. Chambers Vestiges Nat. Hist. Creation 30 The nebulous matter of space, previously to the formation of stellar and planetary bodies, must have been a universal Fire Mist.
1878 Jrnl. Speculative Philos. 12 4 Back of him [sc. the polyp] lay the not-yet-polyp, and, back of all, the universal mother, fire-mist.
1998 R. Bass Where Sea used to Be (1999) 284 Most mineral vapors must be intensely heated. We may call such a vapor ‘fire mist’.
fireshine n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > [noun] > light from a fire
firelightOE
fire-leamOE
flame-light1611
fireshine?1614
?1614 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses vi. 96 My Mother, with her withdrawne houswiferies; Who still sits in the fire-shine [Gk. ἐν πυρὸς αὐγῇ].
1870 D. G. Rossetti Poems 170 Through the small room, with subtle sound Of flame, by vents the fireshine drove And reddened.
1990 C. Holland Bear Flag (1992) xxi. 163 She wandered wide around two people making love in the sand, barely out of the lapping fireshine.
fire signal n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > signalling > visual signalling > luminous signals > [noun] > fire signal
fire signal1698
flame-signal1826
1698 tr. J. Raveneau de Lussan Jrnl. Voy. South Sea iv. 121 The Inhabitants of Queaquilla had not answered the Fire-Signal [Fr. feu] which the Sentinel of La Puna had given them.
1824 J. Symmons in tr. Æschylus Agamemnon 31 (note) This description of the fire-signals is very finely imagined.
2014 Malta Independent (Nexis) 20 June As soon as one tower spotted a suspicious event, a fire signal was started which was picked up by the neighbouring towers, in so doing carrying on the message.
(b) With the sense ‘of or relating to fire in a hearth, furnace, etc.’.
fire basket n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > portable receptacle for burning fuel
fire paneOE
heartheOE
fire vessela1382
chafer1395
chimneyc1420
chafing-dish1483
coal pan1530
fire chauffer1558
brazeraine1623
brasero1652
brazier1690
firecage1770
fire-holder1789
fire basket1798
mangal1814
komfoor1841
rodney1848
Jack1849
chip pan1854
reredos1859
hibachi1863
scaldino1866
chafing-pan1867
salamander1873
1798 S. H. Wilcocke New & Compl. Dict. Eng. & Dutch Langs. II. 295/1 Vuurmand, firebasket.
1846 Ecclesiologist Nov. 179 The church-grate consists of a light, circular, open fire-basket, raised on legs, and portable.
1919 Foundry 15 Oct. 755/2 A fire basket, sometimes built in the form of a open grate..; also, it may be built of boiler plate, drilled full of holes.
2014 L. Barraclough Mark of Cain 225 Chunks of charred wood and ash fall through the fire basket.
fire bellows n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > metalworking equipment > [noun] > forging equipment > bellows
bellowsa800
fire blower?a1440
fire bellows?a1500
ball-bellows1634
fire fan1875
?a1500 Nominale (Yale Beinecke 594) in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 779/14 Hoc reposilium, a fyirbelowys.
1619 Edinb. Test. L. f. 227v, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Fire Sex pair of fyre belleis.
1796 Telegraph 8 Sept. Flails for beating out the grain, fire-bellows, the humble spinning-wheel of old village women, and many other tools.
1884 N.Y. Times 19 Sept. 3 Fire bellows composed of wood, leather, and metal, metal being a prominent and important feature, are dutiable at 45 per cent ad. valorem.
2013 Newcastle (Australia) Herald (Nexis) 1 June A fire bellows is given a new use as a wall adornment.
fire bowl n.
ΚΠ
1849 Sci. Amer. 10 Nov. 62/2 An opening from the discharge of the reverberated current by the fire bowl, orifice, drum and opening.
1899 Boy's Own Paper 26 Aug. 767/2 The fire-bowls are of thin brass, containing a quantity of tow moistened with methylated spirit.
1961 Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, Alaska) 17 May 2/6 (advt.) Big barbecue with stainless steel grill and deep fire bowl.
2005 T. Gentry Jesse Owens i. 2 As soon as the runner lit the huge fire bowl in the stadium, the procession of the athletes began.
fire brush n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > cleaning house > [noun] > equipment for
fire brush1629
housemaid's box1842
1629 in J. S. Moore Clifton & Westbury Probate Inventories (1981) 51 One frying pan and feyre brochese and 4 Iron hangers for pottes and kettles.
1745 J. Swift Direct. to Servants 59 Clean away the Ashes from betwixt the Bars with the Fire-Brush.
1854 Derby Mercury 12 Apr. 7/4 No blows were given, only she threw the fire brush at me.
1994 M. Hughes No Cake No Jam xi. 123 The door was unlocked and inside were fire brushes made from twigs lashed together, and a pile of sacks.
fire coal n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > coal or types of coal > [noun] > specifically live or glowing in a fire
coaleOE
gleedc950
fire coala1398
coal branda1425
kindling coal1592
coffin1797
gathering-coal1808
coffin-spark1821
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > a fire > [noun] > a live coal
coaleOE
gleedc950
fire coala1398
kindling coal1592
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 132v (MED) Fir cole [L. carbo..si ignitus fuerit] brenneþ & greueþ soles of feet þat trediþ þeron.
1640 Wits Recreations sig. Aa2 And with it a fire-coale.
1773 T. Everard Let. 2 Oct. in John Norton & Sons (1968) 354 1 Copper pan to remove fire Coals.
1802 T. Beddoes Hygëia II. v. 17 She has been like a fire-coal these two hours.
2012 M. Wine In Warrior's Bed x. 194 Her hair was lying down her back to dry in the heat from the fire coals.
fire grate n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for heating buildings, rooms, etc. > hearth or fireplace > grate
grate1605
fire grate1620
purgatory1707
stove-grate1730
stovea1756
ash-grate1833
basket-grate1889
well-fire1895
well grate1898
hob-grate1915
combination grate1940
1620 Inventory of Maurice Mortiboyes Lichfield Rec. Office: B/C/11, Solihull 1 payre of tonges, one branderde, one fyergrate and a ripplecombe.
1691 J. Evelyn Kalendarium Hortense (ed. 8) 156 Let..the Fire-grate stand about three Feet higher than the Floor.
1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack xlix. 355 I..went to the fire-grate.
1937 Times Lit. Suppl. 1 May 316/2 As overladen with false ornament as the contemporary cast-iron firegrates.
2003 Vegetarian Times Nov. 50/3 Remove the firedogs or fire grate from the fireplace.
fire nook n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for heating buildings, rooms, etc. > hearth or fireplace
hearthOE
chimneya1330
easter1459
hearthsteada1500
smoke1605
fireplace1611
hearthing1612
focus1638
fire nook1683
firebox1825
1683 J. Norris Murnival of Knaves 23 His Man i'th' fire-nook, who heard all, With Patience very great, not small, Told's Master more, no doubt, than all.
1845 R. W. Hamilton Inst. Pop. Educ. ii. 21 Their huts are seen and their fire-nooks exposed.
2013 Timaru (N.Z.) Herald (Nexis) 31 Aug. 34 The private courtyard provides shelter for the outdoor fire nook, barbecue area and fully secured and heated in-ground swimming pool.
fire poker n.
ΚΠ
1702 Tryal R. Hathaway 15 I said, if they would wash the Fire-poker clean, and put it into his Mouth, to prevent his biting my Finger, I would do it.
1789 W. Bentley Hist. Town & Parish Halifax (Vocab.) 82 Fire-point, a fire-poker. So called perhaps from its having a shap [sic] end.
1855 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Yorks. Words 133 Porr, the fire-poker.
1984 Washington Post (Nexis) 7 Dec. 9 For sale are candleholders, hardware, hangings, fire pokers and fireplace sets starting at $2 for a handsome hook, $20 for a fire poker.
2007 J. Mallery Marcelli Princess i. 2 Grandma Tessa had a fire poker, and Grammy M threatened Diego with a rolling pin.
fire set n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for heating buildings, rooms, etc. > hearth or fireplace > (set of) fire irons
fire tree1566
fire irons1642
fire set1800
companion set1920
1800 Exeter Flying-post 17 July (advt.) Fire Sets; a Clock; all Kinds of Kitchen Furniture, in good Condition.
1925 Washington Post 26 July sm2/2 In the furnishings ordered from Paris by Monroe..were many fire sets and ornaments that remain in the White House today.
2000 Log Home Living Sept. 64/2 Fire sets, which were originally used to adjust the wood and clean the hearth, today lend an air of authenticity to gas fires.
† fire-stock n. [stock n.3] Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > furnace or kiln > furnace > [noun]
oveneOE
furnacea1225
chimney1340
fire-stock1440
firework1606
fire room1657
firehole1682
poil1756
smut1819
blast-pot1887
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 161 Fyyr stok.
fire stove n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for heating buildings, rooms, etc. > stove
stove1604
furnace1691
fire stove1699
stow1730
poil1756
stove-fire1769
hypocaust1829
magazine stove1875
1699 L. Meager Eng. Gardner (ed. 9) (title page) Making fire-stoves, watering, and what is to be done in every month through the year, in the orchard.
1756 W. Toldervy Hist. Two Orphans III. 205 He came with..his head into the fire stove.
1879 Judy 17 Sept. 133 Shivering over the ornaments for his fire-stove and listening to the howling of the wind and driving rain.
2000 Hills Gaz. (Perth, Austr.) (Nexis) 4 July 16 We had a fire stove like many, so the kitchen was certainly hot in the summer.
(c) With the sense ‘of or relating to a destructive fire’, esp. designating equipment used to warn of or extinguish such fires. See also fire engine n. 1, fire station n. at Compounds 2a, etc.
fire apparatus n.
ΚΠ
1811 J. Mease Picture of Philadelphia 140 Fire apparatus, in the city of Philadelphia..35 engines, houses &c.,..Ladders and fire hooks,..nine hose companies, 7850 feet of hose; houses, carriages and apparatus, [etc.].
1901 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 6 Oct. 2/1 Loss about $225,000, with 25 per cent. insurance. There was no fire apparatus.
2014 Newsday (N.Y.) (Nexis) 3 Apr. a24 During the open houses, visitors can tour the firehouses and fire apparatus.
fire bell n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > warning of imminent danger or evil > [noun] > warning arousing the unwary > device for sounding alarm > device warning of fire
fire bell1596
fire-drum1739
fire alarm1763
fire-roll1830
thermostat1881
thermo-call1895
1596–7 in A. Palmer Tudor Churchwardens' Accts. (1985) 38 Payd for the fier bell rope vs.
1867 C. Dickens Let. 22 Dec. (1999) IX. 519 I have heard the fire bells dolefully clanging all over the city.
2007 G. Edwards (title) Fire bell in the night.
fire-bucket n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > bucket
fire-bucket1585
siphon1688
1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 279 Incendiarij siphones..Fire buckets.
1724 Daily Post 6 Jan. The said Watch-Engine is so made, that it extinguishes Fire at the first breaking out, tho' no Person is then present, only by hanging it up as a Fire-Bucket in the middle of a Warehouse, Shop or Room.
1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xxvii. 325 Rows of fire-buckets for dashing out a conflagration in its first spark.
1918 Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting on Farm (Bull. U.S. Dept. Agric. No. 904) 12 Buckets of water are kept in fixed places to be used for fire only... The usefulness of the fire bucket depends upon its being instantly available.
2013 N. Hodgson Beyond Stained Glass Window 174 Sand-filled fire-buckets used to douse a fire.
fire call n.
ΚΠ
1853 Freeman's Jrnl. (Dublin) 25 Mar. Inspector Stokes, who is constantly on the alert, sounded the fire-call.
1897 Daily News 30 Nov. 5/1 Our fire-call system in London.
1906 Westm. Gaz. 26 Apr. 7/1 Within a very few minutes of the fire-call being rung.
2002 Flying Oct. 113/3 We head back to the station house, where they give me the safety briefing of what to do if we get a fire call.
fire damage n.
ΚΠ
1850 Rep. Supreme Courts Scotl. 22 462/1 Suppose the mill had suffered from fire damage to the extent of £500—in that case I should not hold that the pursuer was entitled to require £900..in repairs.
1883 Burlington (Iowa) Hawk-eye 20 Dec. 4/4 A fire occurred this morning in three warehouses of the Baltimore Warehouse company... The fire damage is estimated at $75,000.
1942 Barron's 5 Jan. 7 The question arises whether the policy would pay for any fire damage caused by sabotage.
2004 G. A. Hine in J. R. Almirall & K. G. Furton Anal. Fire Scene Evid. ii. 51 Typically the most fire damage will occur in the area where the fire began.
fire detection n.
ΚΠ
1868 9th Ann. Rep. Superintendent Insurance Dept. State N.Y. 279 Amount of all other payments, consisting of the following items:—real estate expense, fire detection, license tax, &c.
1920 Internat. Marine Engin. July 610/1 The ship's fire detection system was based on the principle of locating incipient fires by catching traces of smoke which are conveyed through pipe lines to the wheel house.
2012 S. W. Maier & J. Russell-Smith in R. A. Bradstock et al. Flammable Austral. iv. 80 Until recently, only polar orbiting satellites have been used for fire detection in Australia.
fire-drum n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > warning of imminent danger or evil > [noun] > warning arousing the unwary > device for sounding alarm > device warning of fire
fire bell1596
fire-drum1739
fire alarm1763
fire-roll1830
thermostat1881
thermo-call1895
1739 Scots Mag. Jan. 41/1 In this general panick, we were alarm'd by the fire-drum, the catastrophe being much more melancholy in the neighbourhood.
1814 W. Scott Waverley II. xi. 185 A kind of rub-a-dub-dub, like that with which the fire-drum startles the slumbering artizans. View more context for this quotation
1997 D. Dunnett Caprice & Rondo xviii. 199 They rounded them up, while the fire-drum hammered its warning.
(d) With the sense ‘of or relating to the worship of fire’ (see also fire-worship n.).
fire deity n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > [noun] > of specific things > fire
fire god1638
fire spirit1647
fire deity1786
fire fiend1803
1786 C. Vallancey tr. P. Jurieu in Vindic. Anc. Hist. Ireland xi. 408 The Chammanim, (in which the Fire Deity [Fr. le Feu] and the Sun were worshipped, were introduced by the idolatrous Jews).
1871 E. B. Tylor Primitive Culture II. xvi. 252 We have in this region explicit statements as to a distinct fire-deity.
2009 Times (Nexis) 21 Mar. 35 The son sets the pyre alight in a sacrificial offering to Agni, the sacred fire deity that carries the soul to heaven.
fire god n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > [noun] > of specific things > fire
fire god1638
fire spirit1647
fire deity1786
fire fiend1803
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 186 Afore this Altar is a Trench or ditch, wherein the Fyre-god is placed.
1817 T. Moore Lalla Rookh 260 By the Fire-God's shrine.
2010 M. I. Wallace Green Christianity ii. 41 The Fire God continues as a unifying, vivifying power necessary for the well-being of planetary life.
fire temple n.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > artefacts > sanctuary or holy place > temple > [noun] > fire-worshippers'
fire temple1712
1712 Atlas Geographus III. vi. 353/2 The great Pyræum or Fire-Temple to be kept here by the Magi.
1817 T. Moore Lalla Rookh 171 That venerable tower, he told them, was the remains of an ancient Fire-temple.
2004 S. Mehta Maximum City 242 All day long he sat in the fire temple down the road and lived on the alms the devout gave him.
(e) In terms for weapons bearing, containing, or sending out fire, or used as a firearm. See also firearm n., fire arrow n. at Compounds 2a, etc.
† firegun n. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > [noun]
cane of fire1550
shota1578
fire1590
fire piece1592
fireweapon?1592
powder instrument1613
firearm1643
firegun1677
bulldog1700
nail driver1823
peacemaker1840
thunder stick1918
1677 G. Miege New Dict. French & Eng. i. sig. *N3/3 Carabine, a sort of fire-gun.
1860 Wrexham & Denbighshire Advertiser 4 Aug. The field of battle, covered with dead bodies of the enemy, and with baggage of every kind and fireguns, was at last conquered.
fire shaft n. now historical
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > arrow > [noun] > fire-arrow
fire arrowa1540
mallet1541
fire shaft1628
malleolus1753
1628 (title) A new inuention of shooting fire-shafts in long-bowes.
1800 T. Maurice Indian Antiq. VII. 671 By these weapons were evidently meant the fire-shaft, or rocket.
2014 P. Doherty Roseblood 322 Warwick's men replied with fire shafts against the barricades.
fire-spear n.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > spear or lance > [noun] > fire-spear
phalaricaa1522
fire-speara1527
phalaric1608
a1527 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (Elphinstoun) (1959) ix. xi. l. 87 [With ane hydduus] byrnand fyre [speir].
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 33 Mak reddy ȝour..fyir speyris, hail schot, lancis, pikkis.
1840 Colonial Mag. 3 194 Thatch was the usual covering, until the hostile blacks rendered shingles necessary, as a precaution against their blazing fire-spears.
2012 Queensland Times (Nexis) 7 June 14 Each fire dancer had special talents, including dancing with a lit hula hoop, and combat routines with fire-spears.
(f) Chiefly Astrology. Designating a person born under a fire sign or otherwise associated with the element fire; of or relating to such a person. Cf. fire sign n. at Compounds 2a.
ΚΠ
1877 A. Keary in Auld Lang Syne: Select. Papers ‘Pen & Pencil Club’ 86 He divides people into earth, air, fire, and water people.
1931 A. Blackwood in N. Amer. Rev. Sept. 222/1 A Fire person and a Water person never get on—they extinguish each other.
1970 Press-Courier (Oxnard, Calif.) 26 June 10/2 Fire eyes are sparkling and daring; air eyes are alert and intelligent; water eyes are soulful and mysterious; earth eyes are honest and direct.
2004 B. Yamaguchi Feng Shui Beauty vi. 37 A Fire person is charismatic and has extraordinary energy. Fire types are usually at the heart of the action.
b. Objective.
(a) In sense A. 1.
fire-bearing adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [adjective] > fire-bearing
fieryc1300
igniferous1618
fire-bearing1713
1713 in T. Creech tr. Lucretius Of Nature of Things (new ed.) II. 476/2 The Antients believ'd the Stars to be either very Fire, or of a firy Nature, and therefore call'd the Æther ignifer, Fire-bearing.
1853 G. Grote Hist. Greece XI. ii. lxxxiv. 153 They set fire to the city..with fire-bearing arrows.
1932 London Q. Rev. Apr. 271 Birds that nestled in the fire-bearing tree came down to earth..bringing with them a branch charged with latent or visible fire.
2012 Hamilton (Ont.) Spectator (Nexis) 23 Aug. s1 The next fire-bearing relay is already on its way to London.
fire-belching adj.
ΚΠ
1621 J. Ashmore Epigrammes in tr. Horace Certain Sel. Odes 46 Mercurialists, the bowels of the earth That rent, and with fire-belching bellows breath Smelt metalls.
1889 ‘M. Twain’ Connecticut Yankee xiv. 105 They thought I was one of those fire-belching dragons they had heard so much about from knights and other professional liars.
2001 Sport Diver Nov. 61/1 Lush green rain forests, fire-belching volcanoes..and the cobalt blue of the Pacific.
fire-breathing adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [adjective] > of the nature of or resembling flame > flaming or blazing > emitting flames or fire
fire-burningc1275
fire-foaming1552
fire-mouthed1590
fire-spitting1590
fire-breathing1592
ignivomous1603
flame-darting1608
flame-snortinga1618
flame-breathing1626
flammivomous1663
1592 T. Nashe Strange Newes sig. M Dancing bals, fire breathing gourdes, artificiall flies to hang in the aire by themselues.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. iv. 116 Their Fire-breathing Horses.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. I. vi. i. 297 On a sudden,..rises Sansculottism, many-headed, fire-breathing.
1924 Overland Monthly July 322/2 The battle of that great hero [sc. St George] with the fire-breathing dragon.
2001 C. D'Lacey Fire Within 5 It wasn't a fearsome, fire-breathing monster.
fire bringer n.
ΚΠ
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 187 Chyrons, who by a grant of Zertoost (the fire-bringer) are to abide here till Doomsday.
1864 R. H. Horne (title) Prometheus the fire-bringer.
1998 W. Heyen Diana, Charles & Queen 49 The artist rendered the fire bringer to suggest a Christ figure splayed on the holy rood.
fire-darting adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > light emitted in particular manner > [adjective] > glittering or sparkling
sparkling?c1225
glising1340
glimmeringa1375
glistening1388
glistering1398
glitteringa1400
coruscantc1485
twinkling1508
flankering1577
fire-darting1594
glitterous1596
scintillant1611
winkinga1616
micant1657
scintillating1664
spangling1665
besparklinga1674
skinkling1790
spunky1791
micacious1797
glistery1806
spark-like1814
spangly1818
emicatious1819
sparky1827
aglitter1828
ablaze1851
aglist1858
scintillescent1860
aglisten1867
glittery1880
twinkly1884
sparkly1922
1594 C. Marlowe & T. Nashe Dido i. sig. A3 Exhal'd with thy fire-darting beames.
1769 O. Goldsmith Rom. Hist. I. 199 The fire-darting eyes of the Romans.
1802 M. Berry Jrnl. 8 Apr. (1865) II. 189 After all I have said of the sweetness of his countenance, I can readily believe..that it is terrible and fire-darting when angry.
1985 Soundings 68 258 The chariot of Helios was drawn by bulls or fire-darting horses.
† fire-foaming adj. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [adjective] > of the nature of or resembling flame > flaming or blazing > emitting flames or fire
fire-burningc1275
fire-foaming1552
fire-mouthed1590
fire-spitting1590
fire-breathing1592
ignivomous1603
flame-darting1608
flame-snortinga1618
flame-breathing1626
flammivomous1663
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Fyre fominge or spittinge, or that whych fometh fire. Igniuomus.
1565 A. Golding tr. Ovid Fyrst Fower Bks. Metamorphosis ii. f. 2v His fyryfomynge steedes..They take from Maunger trymly dyght.
1622 ‘Jack Dawe’ Vox Graculi 29 The flammigerous, and fire-foming Dog-star shall snuffe vp the Planets, and with his flaring tong, licke vp the grasse off the tops of hills.
fire spewer n. rare
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [noun] > state of ejecting fire > one who or that which
fire spewer?c1475
spitfire1611
?c1475 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 15562) f. 47v A Fyre spewere, ignivomus.
2008 Tampa (Florida) Tribune (Nexis) 2 Nov. (Getaway section) 10 This community of blue-skinned babes, Siamese twins, midgets, fire spewers and a 647-pound fat lady called Princess Peewee.
fire-spitting adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [adjective] > of the nature of or resembling flame > flaming or blazing > emitting flames or fire
fire-burningc1275
fire-foaming1552
fire-mouthed1590
fire-spitting1590
fire-breathing1592
ignivomous1603
flame-darting1608
flame-snortinga1618
flame-breathing1626
flammivomous1663
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. vii. sig. Sv His cole-blacke hands did seeme to haue ben seard In smythes fire-spitting forge.
1631 T. Fuller Davids Sinne xxxix. sig. B4v Fire-spitting Canons.
1857 J. Bowring Kingdom & People of Siam I. iv. 141 Fire-spitting serpents.
2015 Western Daily Press (Nexis) 3 Sept. 2 The Arcadia event will see a giant fire-spitting ‘spider’, with a DJ booth hanging from its body, entertain thousands.
(b) In sense A. 2.
firekeeper n.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > priest > [noun]
priesteOE
presbyterOE
sirec1290
beauperec1300
sirc1386
fatherhooda1393
fatherheada1434
paternity1439
pater1481
fathershipa1500
father1528
key-bearer?1531
key-keeper?1556
vicegerent1572
priestdom1588
sacerdosa1592
flasher1611
priesthooda1616
père1619
sacerdote1685
firekeeper1789
soggarth1836
priestship1868
soutane1890
joss-man1913
1789 W. Williams Primitive Hist. iii. ii. 439 Le Clerk on Hesiod interprets it fire keeper.
1873 L. Wallace Fair God v. iv. 278 When my sword is at the throats of the fire-keepers [of an Aztec temple].
1996 Yoga Jrnl. Nov. 80/2 A designated firekeeper will spend the next 15 or so hours here to make sure the flames do not die.
fire-kindler n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [noun] > Prometheus
Prometheus1549
fire-kindler1563
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > priest > kinds of priest > [noun] > heathen (general)
priestc1275
flamenc1400
fire-kindler1563
clergyman1609
fetisheer1613
divinea1616
churchman1632
shaman1698
Baal-priest1834
santero1950
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > [noun] > going or setting on fire > setting on fire or alight > making or kindling of fire > one who
fire makera1382
kindler?a1439
fire-kindler1563
firelighter1770
1563 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1875) III. 174 The baillies..to..tak deligent inquisitioun of euery houshalder and fyr kendler.
1643 J. Angier Lancashires Valley of Achor 21 To darken and smother the fire-kindlers.
1881 Sci. Amer. 2 Apr. 214/3 A recently patented fire kindler which dispenses with matches.
2013 Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Pa.) (Nexis) 26 Feb. The common name ‘elder’ is from the Anglo-Saxon ‘ellen’, meaning fire-kindler, most likely referring to the plant's dry, pithy stems.
firemaking n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > [noun] > going or setting on fire > setting on fire or alight > making or kindling of fire
firemakingc1405
beeting1517
fire kindling1658
fire-lighting1825
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale (Ellesmere) (1875) l. 922 Somme seyde it was along on the fir makyng.
1648 J. Sterne Confirmation & Discov. Witch-craft 41 He confessed he oftentimes arose out of his bed, and made a fire, and lay down by it to let them suck his blood; which rising out of his bed, and fire making, his wife averred to be truth.
1865 E. B. Tylor Res. Early Hist. Mankind ix. 228 The art of fire-making.
2002 J. Cartwright White Lightning vi. 44 My father claimed..to have learned from the Bushmen the art of firemaking with sticks and dried dung.
fire user n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [noun] > one who uses fire
fire user1850
1850 Friends' Weekly Intelligencer 20 July 133/1 Man in every country is distinguished from brutes in being..a fire-user.
1910 Scotsman 29 Sept. 10 They [sc. the Smoke Abatement League] could not ignore the domestic fire-user.
2002 Geogr. Rev. Oct. 531 He proposes that ‘primordial man’ in the ‘volcanic lands of East Africa’ was the earliest fire user.
fire-using adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [adjective] > using fire
fire-using1846
1846 Chambers's Edinb. Jrnl. 20 June 398/1 Man alone is a fire-using animal.
1921 Gas Manuf., Distribution & Use (Brit. Commerc. Gas Assoc.) 141/1 Man, also, was the only fire-using animal.
2008 Philos. Trans: Biol. Sci. 363 1742/1 A tipping point may be reached beyond which the many landholders who have made these investments convince their fire-using neighbours to use fire more judiciously.
(c) In sense A. 4. See also fire extinguisher n.
fire annihilator n. now historical
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > fire-extinguisher
squirt1590
fire extinguisher1810
extinguisher1814
fire annihilator1845
chemical extinguisher1873
pyroleter1875
extincteur1878
1845 Economist 1 Feb. 116/1 A New Subject in Chemistry of universal interest—Phillip's Patent Fire Annihilator, illustrated by Dr Ryan in his daily Lectures.
1910 V. E. Johnson Theory & Pract. Model Aeroplaning xi. 113 The motive power employed was obtained from the combustion of charcoal, nitre and gypsum, as used in the original fire annihilator.
1919 Motorboating Mar. 4 (advt.) Fire-Choke is the newest among fire annihilators.
2012 J. Lockett Discov. of Weather Notes 254 He stressed the importance of people's wearing lifebuoys during emergencies and the need for fire ‘annihilators’.
fire quencher n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > fireman
firedrake1601
waterman1615
fireman1668
fire quencher1690
Phoenix-man1699
watering-man1791
pompier1815
firefighter1839
sapper-pumper1841
firie1982
Phoenix waterman-fireman1992
1690 J. Norris Christian Blessedness 176 The business of a Fire-quencher, who..may..rescue the Pile of Building from the devouring Flames.
1861 Mechanics' Mag. 19 July 29/1 What reason have we for supposing that a Government army of fire-quenchers would be better disciplined and directed?
2013 R. Lofting Welding iii. 51/2 (caption) A plain bucket of sand will make a cheap fire quencher before the fire takes hold.
fire-quenching adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [adjective] > that fights fire > adapted for extinguishing fire
fire-quenching?a1656
fire-extinguishing1793
?a1656 J. Poole Eng. Parnassus (1657) 175 Salamander. Unburnt, cold, unschorcht, spotted, speckled, fire-quenching.
1721 J. Chamberlayne tr. B. Nieuwentyt Relig. Philosopher (new ed.) II. xvii. xxv. 398 The Pumps in a Fire-quenching Engine.
1901 Sci. Amer. 17 Aug. 105/2 The value of the propellers as fire-quenching agencies has been most conclusively demonstrated.
2010 C. M. Knight In & out of Step xlii. 446 There is hope that there'll be fire-quenching rain by the weekend.
fire-resisting adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > quality of being incombustible > [adjective] > fire-resistant
fire-resisting1612
fire-resistant1853
flame-resistant1947
flame-retardant1947
1612 S. Sturtevant Metallica xv. 110 Maintained with such fier-resisting meanes, that it cannot possibly melt or burne down.
1850 J. Chubb On Constr. Locks & Keys 24 Safes which were sold as fire-resisting.
2002 R. D. Treloar Plumbing: Heating & Gas Installations (ed. 2) v. 218 A fire-resisting wall must be provided between the tank and the building.
c. Parasynthetic, instrumental, similative, etc.
† fire angry adj. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > [adjective]
irrec825
gramec893
wemodc897
wrothc950
bolghenc1000
gramelyc1000
hotOE
on fireOE
brathc1175
moodyc1175
to-bollenc1175
wrethfulc1175
wraw?c1225
agrameda1300
wrathfula1300
agremedc1300
hastivec1300
irousa1340
wretheda1340
aniredc1350
felonc1374
angryc1380
upreareda1382
jealous1382
crousea1400
grieveda1400
irefula1400
mada1400
teena1400
wraweda1400
wretthy14..
angryc1405
errevousa1420
wrothy1422
angereda1425
passionatec1425
fumous1430
tangylc1440
heavy1452
fire angry1490
wrothsomea1529
angerful?1533
wrothful?1534
wrath1535
provoked1538
warm1547
vibrant1575
chauffe1582
fuming1582
enfeloned1596
incensed1597
choleric1598
inflameda1600
raiseda1600
exasperate1601
angried1609
exasperated1611
dispassionate1635
bristlinga1639
peltish1648
sultry1671
on (also upon) the high ropes (also rope)1672
nangry1681
ugly1687
sorea1694
glimflashy1699
enraged1732
spunky1809
cholerous1822
kwaai1827
wrathy1828
angersome1834
outraged1836
irate1838
vex1843
raring1845
waxy1853
stiff1856
scotty1867
bristly1872
hot under the collar1879
black angry1894
spitfire1894
passionful1901
ignorant1913
hairy1914
snaky1919
steamed1923
uptight1934
broigus1937
lemony1941
ripped1941
pissed1943
crooked1945
teed off1955
ticked off1959
ripe1966
torqued1967
bummed1970
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxii. 476 I am well sure that Charlemagne shall wexe fyre angry for it [Fr. en fourcenera].
fire baptism n.
ΚΠ
1652 W. Dell Βαπτισμῶν διδαχή (new ed.) 4 Johns Baptism and Christs, were distinct Baptisms, the one Water-Baptism, the other Fire-Baptism.
1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus ii. vii. 61/2 My Spiritual New-birth, or Baphometic Fire-baptism.
2012 Times (Nexis) 31 Mar. 96 ‘Old Believers’ were persecuted and resorted to self immolation or ‘fire baptism’, burning themselves in their churches.
fire-baptized adj.
ΚΠ
1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus ii. viii, in Fraser's Mag. Apr. 443/1 The fire-baptised soul..here feels its own Freedom.
1990 J. M. Spencer Protest & Praise viii. 188 I'm yet saved and I'm sanctified Holy Ghost filled and fire-baptized.
fire-born adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > rock > igneous rock > [adjective]
fire-born?a1656
igneous1661
Plutonic1794
pyrogenous1821
Plutonian1823
pyrogenic1823
the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > [adjective] > originated or derived > from some specific source
substantial1649
fire-born?a1656
?a1656 J. Poole Eng. Parnassus (1657) 247 The fire-born God.
1845 R. Chambers Vestiges Nat. Hist. Creation 93 Numerous upbursts and intrusions of fire-born rock.
2008 Hindustan Times (Nexis) 12 Apr. For millennia, the fire-born Princess of Panchala has had a bad press in the world of men.
fire-bright adj.
ΚΠ
1564 T. Harding Answere to Iuelles Chalenge xiv. f. 147 The Crosse shyned fyerbright in the crestes of theire helmettes.
1845 Dublin Univ. Mag. Aug. 147 Their forms were tall, Their features firebright, their costumes antique.
1916 A. Huxley Burning Wheel 15 My fire-bright window-pane.
2005 I. Carmody Little Fur xv. 182 She saw..the soot-smeared, fire-bright face of one tree burner after another.
fire-burnt adj.
ΚΠ
1615 E. Sandys Sacred Hymns 26 My bones disioint..: as fire-burnt clay My spirits being dryd, lifes vigours all decay.
1829 London Lit. Gaz. 17 Oct. 676/2 Their foundations were invariably composed of the fire-burnt brick, while the sun-burnt formed the exterior or higher mass of each heap.
2011 Forestry Chron. Feb. 42 (heading) Moisture and energy content of fire-burnt trees for bioenergy production.
fire-clad adj.
ΚΠ
1749 W. Mason Ode Senate-House Cambr. vii. 7 Enthusiastic raptures roll, Gen'rous as those the Sons of Cecrops caught In hoar Lycæum's shades from Plato's fire-clad thought.
1793 W. Wordsworth Descr. Sketches 25 The fire-clad eagle's wheeling form.
1871 B. W. King Our Diary in Europe 85 Breaking away from the fire-clad doctrines of Rome, Calvin became the pope of Protestantism, and burned Servetus at the stake for differing from him.
2007 UPI Newswire (Nexis) 28 May School officials in the town, meanwhile, are meeting with the parents of about 20 students who were present at the taping and cheered the fire-clad boy on.
† fire-coached adj. Obsolete rare
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > riding in a vehicle > [adjective] > riding in specific horse-drawn vehicle
incoached1599
fire-coached1615
caroched1636
charioted1791
charioteered1849
coachy1882
1615 J. Sylvester Hymn of Almes 55 in 2nd Session Parl. Vertues Reall She, who so free the Fire-Coacht Prophet [sc. Jesus] fed, Found happy Guerdon; for..Her Faithfull Almes..Re-brought the Breath of her Death-seized Heir.
fire-cracked adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > subjection or exposure to heat or fire > [adjective] > marked by fire
fire-cracked1686
fire-pitted1760
fire-scathed1780
fire-seamed1815
fire-scarred1824
1686 Building Acct. St Paul's Jan.–Mar. in 14th Vol. Wren Soc. (1937) 4 Breaking in pieces the great flawed & fire crackt stones to be used for Ruble.
1837 B. D. Walsh tr. Aristophanes Acharnians iv. ii, in Comedies 89 It rings With a harsh jar, like fire-cracked things.
2014 Press (Christchurch, N.Z.) (Nexis) 3 Oct. 5 Mike Greer Homes cut through previously unexcavated ground and through a charcoal-rich cultural layer containing shell, bone and fire-cracked rock.
fire-crowned adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > markings or colourings > [adjective] > flame-coloured > having a flame-coloured crest
fire-crowned1824
1824 Common-place Bk. of Anc. & Mod. Ballad 54 O'er the fire-crown'd hill, The full-orb'd moon arose.
1871 Ld. Tennyson Window No. IX The fire-crown'd king of the wrens.
2009 A. Downum Drowning City xix. 314 Two faces hung before her—the man's, and a fire-crowned eagle.
fire-damaged adj.
ΚΠ
1843 North Amer. & Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia) 10 Mar. It [sc. the coffee]..is slightly fire damaged.
1948 W. G. Combs & F. G. Smith Grain Grading Primer (U.S. Dept. Agric.) (rev. ed.) 33 Fire-damaged flaxseed is characterized by a charred and dead, black appearance.
1985 Alcalde (Univ. Texas) July–Aug. 18/3 The city Building Standards Commission had ordered the fire-damaged building to be demolished.
2003 Birder's World Apr. 17/1 Of the $170,000 budgeted for restoring the fire-damaged area, $60,000 is aimed at directly improving sage-grouse habitat with beneficial grasses and forbs.
† fire-flowing adj. Obsolete rare
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > making or becoming liquid > action or process of melting > [adjective] > melted
meltedOE
ymolten1387
moltena1400
rendereda1400
molt1526
rended1558
rinded1581
rindled1601
uncandieda1625
fire-flowing1820
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > metal in specific state or form > [adjective] > molten
moltenc1300
molt1373
melted1660
smelted1750
fire-flowing1820
hot1820
liquated1874
1820 P. B. Shelley Vision of Sea in Prometheus Unbound 175 Like whirlpools of fire-flowing iron.
fire-footed adj. [after classical Latin ignipēs; compare earlier fiery-footed at fiery adj. Compounds 1b]
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by speed or gait > [adjective] > swift
raking?a1475
stirring horse1477
fire hoofed1621
fire-footeda1734
spanking1740
brushing1792
fast-gaited1841
a1734 J. Clarke tr. Ovid Metamorphoses (1735) ii. 47 He has tried the strength of the fire-footed horses [L. ignipedum..equorum].
1865 C. Rossetti Goblin Market & Other Poems (ed. 2) 123 A spirit with transfigured face Fire-footed clomb an infinite space.
2013 Coffs Coast (Austral.) Advocate (Nexis) 25 Sept. 11 Magicians, musicians, flash dancers, a magic archer and a fire-footed muscle man entertained the crowd.
† fire-given adj. Obsolete rare
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > management of artillery > [adjective] > being discharged
playing1575
fire-given1613
1613 G. Chapman Reuenge Bussy D'Ambois iv. sig. G1 Hee draue as if a fierce and fire-giuen Canon Had spit his iron vomit out amongst them.
fire-hardened adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > [adjective] > hardened > by specific means
fire-hardened1626
steel-hardened1834
weather-hardened1834
1626 T. May tr. Lucan Pharsalia iii. sig. E4 Stakes, and fire-harden'd oakes [L. adusti roboris].
1894 C. Phillipps-Wolley Gold in Cariboo 90 Cruel fire-hardened rampikes, which tore the skin to rags.
2006 S. M. Stirling Sky People x. 220 The blade of the machete struck the fire-hardened wood of the tomahawk shaft.
fire-hearted adj.
ΚΠ
1642 Taylor's 2nd Pt. Theatre Gods Iudgments iii. 42 Such fire-hearted and pouder-brained men.
1853 C. W. Webber Tales Southern Border 305 The allurements of women, wealth, position,—every thing, indeed, that the cities of civilization had to offer of excitements and bewildering enchantment to the senses of fire-hearted youth,—had been passed through calmly.
1931 V. Woolf Waves 319 The watery fire-hearted jewels.
1996 C. F. Price Hiwassee iii. x. 169 Still the explosions bloomed among them, fire-hearted, then fringed with sooty smoke.
† fire hoofed adj. Obsolete rare
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by speed or gait > [adjective] > swift
raking?a1475
stirring horse1477
fire hoofed1621
fire-footeda1734
spanking1740
brushing1792
fast-gaited1841
1621 G. Sandys tr. Ovid First Five Bks. Metamorphosis ii. 42 He, who could not guide Those fire-hov'd Steeds [L. ignipedum..equorum].
1849 J. Kenyon Day at Tivoli 143 Lo! the iron coursers stand. Fire hoofed, with fuming nostril.
firelighted adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > [adjective] > resembling fire > illuminated by firelight
fire-lipped1836
firelighted1840
firelit1840
1840 U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. Mar. 212 For an instant Prudence lingered and looked back into the fire-lighted room.
1942 Life 16 Feb. 2/2 (caption) Fire-lighted firewoman.
2005 Palm Beach (Florida) Post (Nexis) 10 Mar. a1 Before teeing off, Norman and the ex-presidents fielded questions from the press in a firelighted study.
fire-lipped adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [adjective] > of or relating to sunlight > edged with
fire-lipped1836
the world > matter > light > artificial light > [adjective] > resembling fire > illuminated by firelight
fire-lipped1836
firelighted1840
firelit1840
1836 R. M. Bird Sheppard Lee II. iv. vi. 21 A fire-lipped demon, stealing out of the shadows.
1845 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 45 Mountain, and wood, and wild, and fire-lipped hill.
1945 Mich. Alumnus 28 July 305 There is deep and solemn magic In the word-hung music done By the fire-lipped children From the porches of the sun.
2012 D. Tyler-Bennett in C. J. Spicer Clark Gable 186 Fire-lipped typists..mobbed him for copies of his well-heeled name.
firelit adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > [adjective] > resembling fire > illuminated by firelight
fire-lipped1836
firelighted1840
firelit1840
1840 Dearden's Misc. Jan. 70 Those snug firelit rooms, now throwing out a stream of orange light across the dusky lanes, now flickering pleasantly to the fitful bellows.
1849 D. M. Mulock Ogilvies (1850) 38/1 The pleasant fire-lit room.
1955 C. Beaton Diary in Self Portrait with Friends (1979) xx. 288 She exudes the friendliness and sympathy of a firelit tea in winter.
1999 M. Faber Crimson Petal & White iv. 601 The usual depictions of firelit domestic bliss and charity to the ragged poor.
fire-mouthed adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [adjective] > of the nature of or resembling flame > flaming or blazing > emitting flames or fire
fire-burningc1275
fire-foaming1552
fire-mouthed1590
fire-spitting1590
fire-breathing1592
ignivomous1603
flame-darting1608
flame-snortinga1618
flame-breathing1626
flammivomous1663
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. ix. sig. I4v That fire-mouthed Dragon.
?1762 Peace: Poem 22 Here the victorious Standard first He plac'd, And there the Fire-mouth'd Cannon boldly fac'd.
1864 New Monthly Mag. Mar. 341 The fire-mouthed cannon roared.
2011 Christian Sci. Monitor (Nexis) 6 Oct. (heading) Liberian women are..hoping that fire-mouthed politicians don't drag their country back to war.
† fire-opalescent adj. Obsolete rare
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > variegation > iridescence > [adjective]
changeablec1450
cangeant1608
volant1616
changeanta1653
changing1659
pavonine1688
versicoloured1721
perlaceous1777
iridescent1794
pavonated1798
chatoyant1816
nacreous1819
shot1824
versicolorate1826
nacrous1836
versicolorous1847
iridine1851
perlarious1858
nacry1859
nacrine1862
playing1871
fire-opalescent1873
irisated1887
holographic1988
1873 MacMillan's Mag. 1 Nov. 514 Fire-opalescent wilderness!
fire-pitted adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > lack of beauty > disfigurement > [adjective] > blemished > blemished by fire
fire-pitted1760
fire-scathed1780
fire-seamed1815
fire-scarred1824
firemarked1853
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > subjection or exposure to heat or fire > [adjective] > marked by fire
fire-cracked1686
fire-pitted1760
fire-scathed1780
fire-seamed1815
fire-scarred1824
1760 W. Mountaine in Philos. Trans. 1759 (Royal Soc.) 51 290 The sheets..[were] scorched and fire-pitted in like manner.
1941 Illustr. London News 11 Jan. 54 (caption) The..council chambers of the guildhall, now a fire-pitted ruin.
2007 Sandusky (Ohio) Reg. 14 Nov. a2/1 People..can't open their windows because of toxins released in the air by the fire-pitted furnaces.
fire-roasted adj.
ΚΠ
1862 Good Words Dec. 52/2 On the right are the scenes of..lava-rocks hurtling over each other, and fire-roasted mouths of small parasitic craters.
1957 Jrnl. Royal Soc. Arts 105 298 Montezuma made his chocolatl from fire-roasted beans.
2012 Bon Appétit Aug. 91/1 You can smell the fire-roasted meat long before you hear the tropicalia music.
fire-robed adj. chiefly literary and poetic (now rare)
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [adjective] > relating to Apollo
Apollinar1601
Phoebean1603
Apolline1605
fire-robeda1616
Apollonian1664
Apollinarian1753
Apollonic1880
Apollinian1924
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iv. 29 The Fire-roab'd-God Golden Apollo. View more context for this quotation
1782 T. Stratford 1st Bk. Fontenoy 37 Fire-rob'd Liberty shall hurl from heav'n Her world-resounded thunders on the Gaul.
1928 E. Blunden Japanese Garland 29 My late remembrance likes to tell, Less..Of fire-robed ritual trooping by, Than the plain joy, three friends walked there.
fire-scarred adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > lack of beauty > disfigurement > [adjective] > blemished > blemished by fire
fire-pitted1760
fire-scathed1780
fire-seamed1815
fire-scarred1824
firemarked1853
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > subjection or exposure to heat or fire > [adjective] > marked by fire
fire-cracked1686
fire-pitted1760
fire-scathed1780
fire-seamed1815
fire-scarred1824
1824 J. Beldam Il Pastore Incantato 8 Within the spent womb of an old volcano, Whose frightful cliffs, fire-scarred, in hideous forms..a dæmon dwells.
2014 Australian (Nexis) 11 Oct. (Inquire section) 21 Some wildlife..fail to find food or shelter over wide fire-scarred areas and struggle to survive.
fire-scathed adj. now rare
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > lack of beauty > disfigurement > [adjective] > blemished > blemished by fire
fire-pitted1760
fire-scathed1780
fire-seamed1815
fire-scarred1824
firemarked1853
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > subjection or exposure to heat or fire > [adjective] > marked by fire
fire-cracked1686
fire-pitted1760
fire-scathed1780
fire-seamed1815
fire-scarred1824
1780 Poem Late Calamities Eng. 4 Fire-scath'd it stood, the Forest's late defence—No shrub so poor to do it reverence.
1848 A. Jameson Sacred & Legendary Art I. 71 Swarthy red, as if fire-scathed.
1941 Prairie Schooner 15 282 Man has fled his fire-scathed house For the refuge of a burrow.
fire-scorched adj.
ΚΠ
1623 W. Lithgow Most Delectable Disc. Peregrination (new ed.) 190 The two fire-scorch'd foules, leapt out suddainely aliue.
1843 J. G. Whittier Lays of my Home 119 The fire-scorched stones.
1996 F. Popcorn & L. Marigold Clicking ii. 318 Employees..pitched in with their own hands to help plant trees in the fire-scorched California mountains.
fire-seamed adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > lack of beauty > disfigurement > [adjective] > blemished > blemished by fire
fire-pitted1760
fire-scathed1780
fire-seamed1815
fire-scarred1824
firemarked1853
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > subjection or exposure to heat or fire > [adjective] > marked by fire
fire-cracked1686
fire-pitted1760
fire-scathed1780
fire-seamed1815
fire-scarred1824
1815 H. H. Milman Fazio iii. ii. 63 If thou'rt a fiend, what hellish right hast thou To shroud thy leprous and fire-seam'd visage In lovely lineaments, like my Bianca's?
1900 Argosy July 270 A hoarse cheer went up, and..died away far down the fire-seamed prairie.
2010 C. King Shadow Spell (2012) xvi. 124 The only sound was the hissing of the ash-stoats as they tumbled along behind him in a wave of fire-seamed gray.
fire smarting adj. now rare Quot. 1852 is a rendering of quot. OE.
ΚΠ
OE tr. Orosius Hist. (Tiber.) (1980) i. vii. 25 Gnættas comon..mid fyrsmeortendum bitum [L. ignitas sciniphes] & ægþær ge þa men ge ða nytenu unaablinnendlice piniende wæron.
1852 tr. Whole Wks. King Alfred the Great II. 67 Gnats came over all the land, both within and without, with fire-smarting bites, and gave endless pain to man and beast.
1997 Sara's Punishment in alt.sex.stories.bondage (Usenet newsgroup) 24 Mar. Sara let out a howl as the fire smarting cut of the whip tail dug into her right cheek.
fire-souled adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > spirit > high-spiritedness > [adjective]
moodyOE
fierce1297
jollyc1330
fieryc1430
high-stomached1546
stout-stomached1549
hearteda1552
generous1581
high-spirited1588
high-hearteda1625
high-mettleda1626
high1649
fire-souled1823
gingery1823
stomachy1896
1823 A. B. Lewis Isabella I. iii. 25 One of those love-inspiring, though disdainful glances, that dart from the eye of the fire-souled Charlotte.
1876 A. C. Swinburne Erechtheus (ed. 2) 47 Wrath of a fire-souled king.
1911 C. E. Whiton-Stone In Portuguese Garden 210 The fire-souled sun sets the whole sky ablaze.
2014 R. Mir tr. A. Majaz in Taste of Words 138 Roiling the blood of the fire-souled poet.
fire-spirited adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > aspects of faith > piety > [adjective]
GodfrightOE
goodOE
ghostlyOE
Godfrightya1225
seelya1225
devout?c1225
piteousc1300
spiritualc1384
graciousa1387
godlyc1390
pitifulc1449
inwardc1450
piousc1450
evangelica1475
servantly1503
obedientiala1513
Christian1526
well-believing1529
God-fearing1548
resigneda1555
heavenly minded1569
timorate1570
Godfull1593
pious1595
fearful1597
devoutful1598
devotea1625
serious1684
unctuous1742
theopathetic1749
fire-spirited1845
theopathic1846
unctional1849
interior1854
devotionate1864
sacramental1874
pi1891
1845 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 199 Things hidden, seen alone by eyes Fire-spirited.
1907 H. Trench New Poems 10 The keen fire-spirited prow Ark of the heaving flame.
1998 Calgary (Alberta) Herald (Nexis) 30 Apr. a4 A young, fire-spirited girl fleeing Russia with a fierce determination to survive.
fire-swift adj. now rare
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > [adjective]
swiftc888
swifta1050
currentc1300
quickc1300
hastivea1325
hastyc1330
ingnel1340
swiftyc1380
speedfula1387
fasta1400
swippingc1420
speedy1487
fleet1528
tite?a1540
scudding1545
flighty1552
suddenly1556
flight1581
feathered1587
Pegasean1590
wing-footed1591
swift-winged?1592
thought-swift-flying1595
wind-winged?1596
swallow-winged1597
Pegasarian1607
skelping1607
rapid1608
night-swifta1616
celerious1632
clipping1635
perniciousa1656
volatile1655
quick-foot1658
meteorous1667
windy1697
high-flying1710
fleet-footed1726
aliped1727
wickc1760
velocious1775
flight-performing1785
fast-going1800
fast-moving1802
meteor1803
wight-wapping1830
fleety1841
speeding1847
swiftening1848
two-forty1855
fire-swift1865
pennate1870
spinning1882
percursory1884
zippy1889
meteoric1895
pacy1906
presto1952
1865 A. C. Swinburne Atalanta in Calydon 67 Glittering with lipless tooth and fire-swift eye.
1876 A. C. Swinburne Erechtheus (ed. 2) 16 Fire-swift wheels That whirl the four-yoked chariot.
1988 E. Friberg tr. Kalevala xix. 163/1 Go and forge a fire-swift eagle, Hammer out a flaming griffin.
fire-tinged adj.
ΚΠ
1797 C. Smith Elegiac Sonnets & Other Poems II. lxxx. 21 On the fire-ting'd waves the lightnings leap.
1907 Daily Chron. 19 Sept. 4/4 The dark pines..dripped fire-tinged dews.
1997 S. Wiggs Lightkeeper xi. 185 Her hair held every silken hue of autumn, from fire-tinged gold to deepest russet.
fire-tongued adj.
ΚΠ
1827 R. Emmons Fredoniad II. 235 A shower of hail descends with rattlings loud; The fire-tongu'd lightning furious drives it forth Against the golden harvest of the earth.
1868 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 224 Not on one favored forehead fell Of old the fire-tongued miracle, but flamed o'er all the thronging host The baptism of the Holy Ghost.
2013 L. Sandlin Distancers i. 5 It was a world of ranters, fire-tongued preachers, Pentecostalists, snake handlers, and river baptizers.
fire-warmed adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > [adjective] > heated or warmed > heated in specific manner (of building or room)
well-warmed?1506
stoved1802
fire-warmed1825
central-heated1912
1825 J. M. Sherer Story of Life I. 194 Ye gazers on a storm from the closed casements of the fire-warmed study, come, And abide its pitiless pelting.
1924 Nash's & Pall Mall Mag. Dec. 177/1 The homely little room was fire-warmed.
1995 B. Webb Fleabag & Ring Fire 17 Gemma..felt the delicious roar of his purr thundering through his fire-warmed, barrel-like body.
fire-wheeled adj. now rare
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > vehicles according to means of motion > vehicle moving on wheels > [adjective] > with specific type of wheels
fire-wheeled1762
high wheel1769
equirotal1839
spider-wheeled1886
1762 St. James's Mag. Oct. 98 At his heels Dismay And Desolation urge their fire-wheel'd yoke Terrible.
1822 H. H. Milman Martyr of Antioch 121 His fire-wheel'd throne.
1906 C. M. Doughty Dawn in Brit. VI. xxiv. 198 Wheeling his fire-wheeled, swift-teamed, gilt chariot, He heavens remounted.
2013 K. Shepard Celestials i. 12 The roar of the fire-wheeled vehicle was relentless and deafening.
fire-winged adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [adjective] > with wings of fire
fire-winged1605
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. ii. 53 Then like a Squib it fals, Or fire-wing'd shaft [Fr. vne sagette Empennee de feu].
1826 H. H. Milman Anne Boleyn (1827) 41 The fire-wing'd ministers of Heaven's just wrath.
2007 Pittsburgh Tribune Rev. (Nexis) 12 Apr. One of the most exhilarating sequences occurs on the back of a fire-winged pegasus.
fire-wrought adj.
ΚΠ
1801 P. Allen Orig. Poems 4 No fire-wrought phrensies of a poet's dream.
1905 Daily Chron. 9 Dec. 8/1 Mr. Jones's fire-wrought temperament.
2011 P. R. Penland Granada, San Juan del Sur & Southwest Nicaragua viii. 232 These mythic, fire-wrought peaks form a tranquil isle.
C2.
a.
fire action n. Military action against the enemy using firearms, esp. in a skirmish at close quarters.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed encounter > [noun] > skirmish > in line
fire action1872
1872 Times 17 Jan. 4/3 ‘This offensive fire action’ was impossible with the muzzle-loaders.
1938 W. S. Churchill Marlborough IV. ix. 167 The whole front came into close, intense fire action, quivering and writhing under the effect of the volleys.
1991 D. E. Showalter Tannenberg ii. iv. 122 Fire action by itself was not decisive. Infantry skirmishes could wear down an enemy but were as a rule unable to do more.
fire adjuster n. a loss adjuster specializing in insurance claims for losses by fire.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > insurance > [noun] > one who insures someone else > insurance agent or broker > other agent types
reassurer1787
reinsured1840
fire adjuster1872
man from the Pru1961
1872 Insurance Law Jrnl. May 270/2 Mr. Church is familiar with fire insurance, and has had considerable experience as a fire adjuster.
1933 N.Y. Times 24 Nov. 42 (headline) Fire adjuster held, charged with arson.
1998 J. O. Finckenauer & E. J. Waring Russ. Mafia in Amer. iii. 57 During the 1890s several large arson rings, the larger of which involved the cooperation of fire adjusters, were tried and convicted.
fire alarm n. (a) a device or system designed to raise the alarm in the event of a fire, typically by emitting a loud noise; (b) a warning of fire (now rare).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > warning of imminent danger or evil > [noun] > warning arousing the unwary > warning of fire
fire alarm1763
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > warning of imminent danger or evil > [noun] > warning arousing the unwary > device for sounding alarm > device warning of fire
fire bell1596
fire-drum1739
fire alarm1763
fire-roll1830
thermostat1881
thermo-call1895
1763 Public Advertiser 28 Oct. A Grant passed the Great Seal to John Green, of St. Martin's-Court, London, Watchmaker, for his new invented Machine, called a Fire Alarm.
1788 T. D. tr. F. von der Trenck Memoirs II. 138 The major du jour..was obliged to go hastily into the town, where the fire-alarm was beat.
1840 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Dec. 750/1 A postilion blew his horn as if he wished to raise a fire-alarm through the town.
1967 Changing Times Oct. 13 (heading) At last, a guide to home fire alarms.
2005 Tampa Bay (Florida) Mag. Nov. 24/2 When they lit all the candles on my last birthday cake, it set off the fire alarm.
fire altar n. now historical (a) an altar used in the worship of fire; (b) an altar upon which sacrificial offerings are burnt.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > artefacts > division of building (general) > altar > [noun] > of fire
pyree1638
fire altar1723
1723 J. Trenchard & T. Gordon in Brit. Jrnl. 13 July 2/1 In these Churches there were no Fire-Altars; but the sacred Fire before which they worshipp'd, was maintain'd only with a Lamp.
1754 W. Borlase Observ. Antiq. Cornwall ii. xviii. 120 The victim being dead, prayers succeeded, the blood of the victim was pour'd out, and what was to be burnt was plac'd on the Fire-altar.
1853 G. Smith Gentile Nations (?1854) viii. 471 Every house, indeed, had a fire-altar of its own..where the sacred fire of the family was continually burning.
1926 M. Leinster Dew on Leaf 30 Fire-altar wreathed in clouds of incense.
2003 E. R. M. Dusinberre Aspects Empire in Achaemenid Sardis iii. 67 A fire altar might conform to the practices of Mazdaism; although there is no mention in the excavators' reports of bone in the uppermost layer of burning.
† fire amel n. Obsolete = enamel n. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > plated or coated metal > [noun] > plating or coating applied to metal > vitreous coating
enamel1426
enamelurec1430
enamellingc1449
fire amelc1500
email1594
stove enamel1907
porcelain enamel1924
stoved enamel1926
c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) xlviii Hir nek, quhite as the fyre amaille.
fire appliance n. a piece of equipment used in fighting fires, such as a fire engine, a fire extinguisher, etc.
ΚΠ
1854 Berrow's Worcester Jrnl. 10 May 8/4 At present their fire appliances were miserably deficient.
1912 J. K. Freitag Fire Prevention & Fire Protection xxxii. 929 The chemical fire extinguisher..has been perfected to an extent which makes it a valuable fire appliance for use by the general public.
2006 T. Moore & R. Lakha Tolley's Handbk. Disaster & Emergency Managem. (ed. 3) xviii. 592 Today's fire appliance carries a wide range of tools and equipment.
fire arrow n. †(a) an arrow with a combustible substance applied or attached near the tip, and set alight for use as an incendiary projectile; a flaming arrow (obsolete); (b) a rocket (rocket n.5 1a); esp. an early form of rocket used as a weapon, consisting of an arrow propelled by gunpowder, first recorded in use in China during the tenth cent. (now historical).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > arrow > [noun] > fire-arrow
fire arrowa1540
mallet1541
fire shaft1628
malleolus1753
a1540 (c1460) G. Hay tr. Bk. King Alexander l. 61 Sum vithe slungis,..sum vithe fyre arrowis.
1681 R. Knox Hist. Relation Ceylon iv. xiii. 180 The houses in the Fort being Thatched, they shot also Fire-Arrows among them.
1729 G. Shelvocke, Jr. tr. K. Siemienowicz Great Art Artillery v. viii. 398 What we here mean by Fire-Arrows and Darts where [sic] formerly called Malleoli.
1809 Naval Chron. 22 374 We should indulge them..with a few shot and shell, not forgetting Congreve's fire arrows.
1963 Sci. News Let. 29 June 406/3 Probably two men put this fire-arrow into action—one held the bow and arrow, the other lit the fuse.
2004 Black Belt Oct. 72/2 Much as American Indians shot flaming arrows into forts and log cabins, the ninja also had fire arrows.
2006 J. A. Angelo Rockets i. 2 Despite the limitations of the fire arrow, the invading Mongol warriors quickly learned from their unpleasant experience at the Battle of Kaifung-fu.
fire assay n. U.S. an assay in which an article is melted down and the constituent metals separated and weighed; cf. cupellation n.Since the article is destroyed in the process, the procedure is typically used on a sample of a large number of items, the remainder being assayed non-destructively.
ΚΠ
1834 Trans. Geol. Soc. Pennsylvania 1 29 Gold..is to be found by the fire assay.
1913 Science 5 Dec. 801/2 The accuracy with which gold and silver can be determined by fire assay was recognized in the early stages of metallurgical development.
1998 B. Hutchinson Fools' Gold ii. 25 So-called fire assays are considered much more accurate and require smaller samples.
fire balloon n. †(a) a type of firework in the shape of a balloon; cf. balloon n. 3 (obsolete rare); (b) a balloon or lantern inflated with air heated by means of a fire beneath its mouth; cf. hot-air balloon n.; (c) a type of balloon used in the Second World War as an airborne incendiary weapon (now historical).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > balloons and airships > [noun] > balloon > types of balloon
fire balloon1754
Montgolfier1783
hot-air balloon1843
sausage1858
sausage balloon1874
observation balloon1909
obbo1925
aerostat1974
1754 A. Berthelson Eng. & Danish Dict. Balloon, fire balloon, et slags fyrvœrkerie af andseende som en stoer gloende kugle [a kind of firework with the appearance of a large glowing ball].
1784 Scots Mag. Feb. 57/2 The brilliant successes of the Parisian Aeronauts gave no doubt some countenance to the confidence of one of the original inventors, (the elder Montgolfier), who undertook to construct at Lyons a fire-balloon of an immense size.
1822 T. Webster Imison's Elem. Sci. & Art (new ed.) I. 170 Fire-balloons, or those raised by heated air.
1888 J. Payn Myst. Mirbridge ix. 57 Damage done to his straw-yard by a fire-balloon which he (Richard) had sent up on a Guy Fawkes' Day.
1942 Irish Times 2 Oct. 1 (heading) Fire balloons warning...the R.A.F. are dropping incendiaries in the form of dome-shaped rubber balloons over Germany.
1945 Billboard 8 Sept. 50/1 Thirty million dollars' worth of planes and Air Force equipment; a Jap fire balloon;..and band concerts drew the record-breaking attendance.
1999 Descent Oct. 26/1 We sent up a fire-balloon to a height of 50 feet, but it failed to reveal the farthest recesses of this weird roof.
2008 C. Schwendiman Saving Lives, saving Honour 82 A fire balloon killed the only American civilian on the mainland.
fire bank n. now rare a bank of burning or readily combustible material, either natural or artificial; (Mining) a spoil heap that spontaneously ignites.The meaning in quot. 1682 is uncertain. It may refer to a fire beacon on the summit of Berwick Law, East Lothian.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > refuse or rubbish > [noun] > produced in boring, mining, or dredging > bank or mound of > which ignites spontaneously
fire bank1682
1682 ‘Mother Greg’ Burgess Ticket Buckhaven 3 He was subject to great Travel, rowing and sailing over high and sandy places in the Sea,..taking up by marks on the Land, the Fire-bank of Berwick-law, Carlick-muire, and Great-law.
1880 Oxf. Times 2 Oct. 8/2 This was of a thick bank of sawdust, shavings, and odd bits of wood... On each side of this fire bank, and within the chimney place was a seat.
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining Fire-bank, a spoil-bank which takes fire spontaneously.
1911 U.S. Patent 993,590 1/1 The clay or earth is placed upon the long bank of fire... After the clay has been placed on the fire bank and has been burned for a certain length of time, [etc.].
1945 I. Jones High Bonnet x. 118 He rolled cigarettes..and smoked with one eye upon the joints turning at his fire bank opposite, the flames licking and sputtering in a sullen conflagration.
1950 A. V. Mitchell & I. B. Crawford Camp Counseling xxv. 269 A reflector fire..consists of a firebank of three or four logs stacked up against a couple of upright supports driven into the ground.
fire bar n. each of the iron bars of a grate or a boiler furnace; a set of these, a fire grate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for heating buildings, rooms, etc. > hearth or fireplace > bars
fire bar1668
water bar1843
jockey-bar1887
society > occupation and work > equipment > furnace or kiln > furnace > parts of furnace > [noun] > grate > bar of
bar1678
fire bar1844
furnace-bar1888
1668 Worcs. Inventory in J. West Village Rec. (1982) iv. 117 Item, 1 fire bar.
1735 J. Barrow Dict. Polygraphicum II. at Iron English Iron, which is coarse, hard, and brittle, fit for fire bars, and such uses.
1844 Proc. Inst. Civil Engineers 3 312 The fuel is spread over a large surface of fire-bar [in a furnace].
1936 E. A. Atkins & A. G. Walker Electr. Arc & Oxy-acetylene Welding (ed. 3) xiv. 162 An improvised fire may be built of fire bars and fire bricks.
2001 Oxoniensia 65 318 These pieces are reminiscent of firebars from pottery or other kilns.
fire-barrel n. Military (now historical) an incendiary device consisting of a cylindrical container filled with flammable materials and set alight.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > naval weapons and equipment > [noun] > ship's guns collectively > other equipment
firing barrel1370
fire-barrela1450
lanyard1825
a1450 (?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Caius) (1810) l. 6122 They caste abrode many fyr barel, So that..The castel become on a fyr al.
1704 London Gaz. No. 4082/3 Throwing down Fire-Barrels.
1757 J. Muller Treat. Artillery viii. 300 At the main and fore chains on each side is a wooden funnel fixed over a fire barrel, and comes through a scuttle in the deck up to the shrouds to give fire to them.
1825 J. Cutbush Syst. of Pyrotechny 508 The fire-barrels for this purpose are cylindrical.
1971 Mariner's Mirror 57 219 The firebarrels contained double-dipped reeds tamped in place with a mixture of 30 lb corned powder, 121 lb Swedish pitch, 6 lb salt peter, 3 lb tallow.
fire barrier n. a means of stopping or slowing the spread of a possible fire.
ΚΠ
1873 Rep. Commissioners Great Fire Boston 407 Make the street at least eighty feet wide, as a sort of fire barrier.
1961 M. G. Say Electr. Engineer's Ref. Bk. (ed. 10) xi. 16 Where there are long vertical runs, fire barriers must be fitted inside the trunking where it passes through floors.
2007 Southeastern Naturalist 7 44 They also found that a river acted as a fire barrier.
fire-barrow n. (a) a portable container in which to light a fire; (b) a barrow for transporting firefighting equipment (now historical).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > barrow
fire-barrow1848
1848 Hampshire Tel. & Sussex Chron. 4 Nov. 3/4 The Brierly-hill iron fire-barrow (price 3l.) which contains a fire grate, and carries a supply of fuel, and may at all times be placed close to the work.
1859 Glasgow Herald 11 Nov. 5/2 The Fire and Lighting Committee connected with the Council..have made a purchase of seven fire-plugs and additional hose, as also a fire barrow—the whole cost of which will reach about £100.
1890 Daily News 9 Jan. 2/5 Fire barrows and hose were quickly on the spot.
1975 W. R. Iley Corbridge xv. 144 The village had a small hand engine—a fire barrow pushed or pulled by the firemen.
2013 Dunoon Observer & Argyllshire Standard 8 Mar. 17/5 Then I trimmed the hydrangeas and took the old flower heads off, swept the paths and finally burnt the rubbish in my fire-barrow.
fire-bavin n. [bavin n. 1] †(a) a bundle of brushwood or firewood used as an incendiary in a fireship (obsolete); (b) a bundle of firewood lighted and used as a beacon (now rare).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > naval weapons and equipment > [noun] > incendiary weapons or materials
fire pike1483
fire-hoop1585
fire-wreath1639
fire-crancel1667
fire chemise1728
fire-bavin1779
blanket1816
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > wood as fuel > [noun] > for specific miscellaneous purposes
coalwood1562
white coal1670
fire-bavin1779
oven wood1794
1779 Encycl. Brit. IV. 3009/1 Fire Bavins. Ibid [i.e. ‘See Fire-Ship’.]
?1799–1803 Encycl. Perthensis IX. 534/1 Fire-bavins, or Fascines, are made of birch, heath, or other brush wood, which is tough and readily kindled.
1832 N. Webster Dict. Eng. Lang. Firebavin, a bundle of brush-wood, used in fireships.
1853 D. S. Giles East & West iv. 67 The still more brilliant fire-bavin that blazed upon every hill-top.
1945 T. B. Costain Black Rose xi. 292 There should be a fire-bavin lighted in honor of this day!
fire bay n. Military a straight section of a trench with a concealed parapet or platform for use when firing upon the enemy; cf. firing bay n. at firing n. Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > earthwork or rampart > [noun] > trench > types of trench
transverse1704
front trench1847
communicating trench1857
shelter-trench1870
firing bay1885
communication trench1903
fire trench1907
funk-hole1914
support trench1914
foxhole1915
fire bay1916
slit-trench1942
1916 Wipers Times 26 Feb. in Wipers Times Compl. Series (2006) 16/1 No mother ever saw with fonder eyes Her offspring than did we our traverses, Our fire-bays, height and end of our desires.
1940 J. Brophy Home Guard 64 In a fire-trench, to be manned with rifles and machine-guns, the sections facing the expected advance of the enemy are known as fire-bays.
1991 P. Barker Regeneration ix. 102 He's gone, perhaps, three fire bays along when he heard the whoop of a shell.
firebed n. the surface in a grate or furnace on which the fuel sits.
ΚΠ
1804 Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. 6 i. 95 The fire-bed is arched, parallel with the bottom, leaving a space of one foot high, for the passage of the flame.
1881 U.S. Patent 241,097 1/1 C is the fire-bed or furnace proper, which (as in the case of a circular furnace) may be in the center or eye of the furnace.
2000 P. W. B. Semmens & A. J. Goldfinch How Steam Locomotives really Work ii. 48 During the burning process, small particles of coal can be lifted off the firebed by the draught.
fire bill n. Nautical a list of crew members with the duties, stations, etc., assigned to them in the event of a fire.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > seafaring life > [noun] > furnishing with crew > crew lists
portledge bill1668
portage bill1743
station bill1800
fire bill1804
watch-bill1813
1804 Observ. & Instr. for Officers of Royal Navy 74 In ships that have not a fire bill, when fire is discovered, the usual mode is to beat to quarters.
1855 J. G. Nixon Captain's Orders in Mariner's Mirror (1921) 7 185 Muster by Fire Bill.
1998 D. J. Ringle Life in Mr. Lincoln's Navy iii. 33 The sailor..then received a personal number that corresponded to various duty assignments listed on the station, quarter, and fire bill.
fire blanket n. a blanket designed for use in an emergency to smother a small fire, typically (in later use) one made of a fire-resistant material such as fibreglass.
ΚΠ
1893 Westm. Budget 16 June 25/2 Have your buckets and hydrants ready, and, above all, your fire-blanket hung up in a handy place.
1953 Sci. Monthly July iv/2 A new type of vinyl-coated glass cloth fire blanket is approximately 30% less expensive than a conventional wool fire blanket.
2013 A. Noice Day Skipper for Sail & Power (ed. 2) iv. 34 A fire blanket..should be mounted within reach of the cooker, but not so close that you have to stretch over any flames to grab it.
fire blast n. now rare damage to plants characterized by a scorched appearance of affected parts (cf. fire blight n.); an instance of this; a disease or disorder characterized by this, spec. a disorder of the hop plant probably caused by poor growing conditions (now historical).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > disease or injury > [noun] > damage due to environmental conditions
wind-stroke1657
carbunculation1666
firing1693
fire blast1727
houseburning1757
winter-killing1827
sun scald1850
scalding1865
sunburn1865
wind-blow1921
water stress1922
balling1928
windrock1969
wind-rocking1972
Waldsterben1983
1727 S. Hales Veg. Staticks 35 I have in July (the season for fire blasts, as the planters call them) seen the vines in the middle of a hop-ground all scorched up almost from one end of a large ground to the other.
1802 W. Forsyth Treat. Fruit-trees xxvii. 254 This is what is called a fire-blast.
1973 Amateur Gardening 13 Oct. 38/2 Can you tell me of any cure for the new disease which is attacking fruit trees—I think it is called fire blast?
† fire-blaze n. Obsolete a flaming torch, a flambeau.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > torch or brand
fire stickc1300
firebrandc1330
fire-blazea1500
firing?c1500
stick of firec1510
lunt1550
tede1562
fire-link1579
fire cane1644
brand1810
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 153 Nero of the fayrnys of the fire-blaas stifly hym reioiet.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) viii. viii. l. 80 Thai..fyre blesis on his hie biggingis swakkit.
1605 R. Verstegan Restit. Decayed Intelligence iii. 80 A torche, or as they termed it, a fyre-blase.
fire blight n. a plant disease or disorder in which affected parts have a scorched appearance (cf. fire blast n.); spec. a disease affecting pear, apple, and quince trees, and other plants of the family Rosaceae, characterized by sudden blackening and withering of flowers and shoots and caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > disease or injury > [noun] > type of disease > bacterial diseases > associated with food or crop plants
fire blight1742
apple blight1835
pear blight1854
leaf scald1870
ring rot1875
angular leaf spot1896
blackarm1902
Moko1913
halo blight1920
the world > plants > disease or injury > [noun] > type of disease > fungal > associated with crop or food plants > hop plant
mould1731
fire blight1742
1742 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman June vi. 74 Hops are subject to the..Fire-blight, and the Mould or Dwindle.
1817 W. Coxe View Cultiv. Fruit Trees 175 The fire blight frequently destroys [pear] trees.
1958 New Scientist 20 Nov. 1301/1 The recent outbreak of Fire Blight in this country is alarming... It is caused by a bacterium, Erwinia amylovora, that usually attacks the fruit trees in the spring.
2007 Univ. Oxf. Bot. Garden News No. 67. 8/1 The Neillia thibetica..has lost its leaves so fast it looks as though it is suffering from fireblight.
fire-blitz n. now historical an aerial attack with incendiary bombs, spec. a German air raid of this type conducted against Britain in the Second World War (1939–45); see blitz n. a.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities in the air > [noun] > air operation > bombing raid > type of
terror raid1917
blitzkrieg1939
blitz1940
fire-blitz1940
fire-raid1940
Baedeker raid1942
nuisance raid1942
thunderbolt raid1943
1940 Daily Mirror 31 Dec. 12 Thousands upon thousands of incendiary bombs were rained down on London during the fire blitz.
1976 Guardian 29 July 14 (caption) Coventry after the fire blitz no option but to carry on.
2008 A. B. Downes Targeting Civilians in War iv. 116 Twenty-first Bomber Command went on a ten-day fire blitz against Nagoya (twice), Osaka, and Kobe, stopping only when the raiders expended their entire stock of incendiaries.
fire-blitzed adj. destroyed or damaged by fire, (originally) spec. as a result of a fire blitz.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities in the air > [adjective] > type of bombing > bombed
fire-blitzed1940
atom-bombed1945
atomic-bombed1945
1940 Daily Express 31 Dec. 1/1 Sir George Wilkinson, Lord Mayor of London, toured the fireblitzed area.
1999 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 24 Apr. 19 WSPA..has worked alongside the UN in the Gulf war..in addition to Zaire, Kobe, Afghanistan, fire-blitzed Indonesia, and flooded Central Europe.
2014 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 13 Jan. Bleak vistas of deserted, fire-blitzed, drug-menaced suburban clinker.
fire blower n. a person who or thing which ventilates a fire, to make it burn more intensely; also figurative; cf. askefise n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > metalworking equipment > [noun] > forging equipment > bellows
bellowsa800
fire blower?a1440
fire bellows?a1500
ball-bellows1634
fire fan1875
?a1440 Hortus Vocab. in Trans. Bristol & Gloucs. Archaeol. Soc. (1923) 45 267 (MED) A ferblowere, an yren hetere.
1625 S. Purchas Pilgrimes I. ii. 267 The Chinois told vs that the man was Fire-blower in Hell to torment such as in this life gaue them no Almes.
1884 Internat. Health Exhib. Official Catal. 65/1 Patent Fire Blower, for..regulating the draught in ordinary grates.
2013 M. Absolon Outward Bound Backcountry Cooking viii. 84 If you plan to cook over fires for your entire trip, consider making a fire blower.
fire boat n. (a) a boat loaded with burning material and explosives, which is set adrift to ignite and blow up an enemy's ships or installations; = fireship n. 1 (now historical); (b) a boat equipped with a water jet, used for firefighting from the water.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > war vessel > [noun] > fireship
fire vessela1382
palander1524
fire boata1615
fireship1626
mine shipc1643
machine-vessel1694
fire raft1759
catamaran1804
fire-coffer1804
fire-junk1822
volcano-ship1860
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessels with other specific uses > [noun] > vessel used to fight fires
fire boata1615
fire float1766
float1890
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > boat to fight fire in harbour
fire boata1615
fire float1766
float1890
a1615 N. Downton in S. Purchas Pilgrimes (1625) I. iv. xi. 510 There came driuing downe two Fire-boats, being towed by Frigats, whom we discouered before they came neare vs.
1735 Old Whig 5 June The King of Sardinia has sent a whole Fleet of Fire-boats, Galleys, &c. down the Po, to burn the Enemy's Bridges.
1826 M. W. Shelley Last Man II. ii. 51 Fire-boats were launched from the various ports.
1855 E. Boxer Let. 6 Mar. in 3rd Rep. Select Comm. on Army before Sebastopol 447 in Parl. Papers 1854–5 (H.C. 218) IX. i. 1 Vessels having portable fire engines are to keep them..in immediate readiness for service; and a boat's crew, to be called the ‘Fire boat's crew’, to be told off in every ship.
1915 N.Y. Tribune 8 May 9/2 The fire-boats William J. Gaynor and Zophar Mills succeeded in directing streams into the hold at long range.
1955 M. Baldwin Hist. Crusades I. xvii. 557 The Moslems launched a fire boat which was blown into the Byzantine fleet riding at anchor in close array.
2001 Maritime Reporter & Engin. News Sept. 21/1 The fireboats will be powered by twin Caterpillar 3126B engines.
2014 W. R. Nester French & Indian War iii. ix. 313 The sailors managed to cast grappling hooks onto the fire boats and to tow them to shallow waters where they spectacularly burned out.
fire-bolt n. a thunderbolt, a flash of lightning; also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [noun] > lightning > bead or forked lightning > flash of
laitc900
slaughta1300
levinc1300
fire-slaughta1400
flaughta1400
thunderboltc1440
fudder1513
fire-flaughta1522
flag of firea1522
bolt1535
strokea1542
lightning bolta1560
lightning1560
fire-bolt?1562
fulgur1563
fulmen1563
thunder-thump1563
light-bolt1582
fire-flash1586
blaze1590
flake1590
clap1591
blastc1665
glade1744
streak1781
thunder-ball1820
leader stroke1934
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > thunder and lightning > [noun] > lightning > stroke of > thunderbolt
fudderc1429
thunderboltc1440
bolt1535
fire-bolt?1562
fulmen1563
light-bolt1582
thunder-ball1820
?1562 Thersytes sig. C.iiv Darest thou trye maystries with me a plucke Whiche fere nother giauntes nor Iupiters fire bolte.
1644 D. Buchanan Knox's Hist. Reformation Scotl. (rev. ed.) Pref. sig. hv The Scots shewed themselves refractaries to his holy Orders; and he, in revenge, did thunder the fire-bolts of his Excommunication against these rude fellows.
1787 R. Merry Paulina ii. 30 Shelter'd the gen'rous youth she most ador'd, When rush'd the fire-bolt, and the tempest roar'd.
1827 W. C. Bryant et al. Talisman for MDCCCXXVIII 115 As the fire-bolts leap to the world below, and flood the skies with a lurid glow.
1950 N.Y. Times 28 Oct. 6/3 A fire bolt ignited a lumber mill..last night.
2011 K. V. Sawyer Whisper of Peace xxx. 284 No fire-bolts have come from the sky.
† firebolted adj. Obsolete rare struck by lightning.
ΚΠ
1839 P. J. Bailey Festus 75 The root of oak firebolted.
† firebome n. [ < fire n. + a second element of uncertain origin (perhaps an error for beme, variant of beam n.1)] Obsolete (perhaps) a beacon.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > signalling > visual signalling > luminous signals > [noun] > fire signal > beacon
beacon1377
lightc1425
firebome1440
bale1455
cresset-light1525
flambeau1688
coal-light1775
bale-fire1805
needfire1805
ward-fire1859
beaconage1862
fanal-
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 29 Beekne, or fyrebome, far [1499 Pynson pharus].
fire boom n. Nautical (now historical and rare) a pole or spar used to fend off enemy ships, esp. fireships.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > naval weapons and equipment > [noun] > devices to ward off fireships
fire grappling1749
fire boom1750
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > other equipment of vessel > [noun] > spar to ward off fireship or ship on fire
fire boom1750
1750 T. R. Blanckley Naval Expositor 18 Booms, Fire, are made out of long Sparrs, and fitted with a Spud of Iron at the End, and ferril'd; their Use is to prevent Fire-ships boarding, or fending off any others that may fall on board them.
1771 Falconer's Universal Dict. Marine (ed. 2) Transl. French Sea Terms at Boute Dehors A boom to push off some contiguous ship, particularly when she approaches for any hostile purpose, as to board, &c. in which sense it is usually called fire-boom.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Fire-booms, long spars swung out from a ship's side to prevent the approach of fire-ships..or vessels accidentally on fire.
1976 N.Y. Hist. 57 333 The fleet took special precautions and at night had fire booms out.
fire boss n. North American Mining an official responsible for fire safety in a mine; cf. fireman n. 5.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > miner > [noun] > mine safety workers
fireman1817
fire boss1869
safety man1877
timber-leader1891
1869 Our Young Folks Aug. 517 Every mine has a fire-boss... He goes around every morning with a safety-lamp, and tests all the places where the fire-damp is likely to be.
1955 J. S. Gowland Smoke over Sikanaska x. 180 There's a Greek who used to be a fire boss in the mine.
2000 High Country News 3 July 17/2 The disaster of Cerro Grande has put the fear of God in every fire boss in the West.
fire bottle n. now historical a bottle or vial of phosphorus or other flammable material, used to start a fire or (formerly) as an incendiary weapon (cf. firepot n. 1).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > other means of ignition
burning-glass1570
sunglass1591
salamander1698
fire bottle1708
fireworks1743
sunglass1801
eupyrion1827
burning-lens1831
1708 tr. J. Ozanam Recreations Math. & Physical 525 Fire-pots for War..when they resemble a Bottle or a Vial they are call' d Fire-bottles or Vials [Fr. Bouteilles à feu ou Phioles à feu].
1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. 122 A most useful application of phosphorus..is the art of making the fire bottle, that affords immediate light.
2006 H. Green Wood vii. 287 All sorts of frightening attempts were made to make a safe fire starter, including ‘fire bottles’.
fire-breather n. (a) a mythical person, beast, etc., able to blow a stream of fire from the nose or mouth; (b) (figurative) a person who expresses contentious or critical opinions, esp. in an intimidating fashion; (c) a person who takes fuel in his or her mouth and spits it out over a flame to produce a jet of fire, typically as a form of entertainment (cf. fire-eater n. 1).
ΚΠ
1840 G. Darley Thomas à Becket iii. i. 48 There will be some dragon's blood spilt at all events. Both are such fire-breathers!
1895 Illustr. Amer. 15 June 747/1 Suppose Mr Evarts..had been called ‘a pettifoggin political poltroon’ by some irate Southern Senator..and suppose Mr Evarts had challenged the fire-breather.
c1897 R. H. Savage Hunt in Corea in W. P. Hooper & R. H. Savage Untold Tale 175 Three fire-breathing devils..had attacked the innocent villagers... Two ‘fire-breathers’ had spit poison fire all over the boldest of their pursuers.
1920 W. Allison Turnstile of Night ii. 13 From a small, unglazed window they could have looked down upon a street crowded with Buddhist pilgrims.., ‘fire breathers’, practisers of witchcraft, long-robed men on foot [etc.].
1939 Galveston (Texas) Daily News 31 Mar. 14/1 While Mussolini has been adding to his reputation as a fire-breather, Hitler has been adding territory to the reich.
1985 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 17 Aug. Those fire-breathers of the printed page, when encountered in real life, are generally quiet and retiring sorts.
2004 Metro (Toronto) 22 Dec. 4/3 (caption) The annual lantern-lit carnival blends music with giant puppets, stiltwalkers, firebreathers and general revelry.
2007 New Yorker 4 June 38/2 The true Chinese dragon isn't a fire-breather, she said, but a damp, benevolent presence who makes the crops grow and keeps order in the universe.
fire bridge n. now rare a low wall at the back of a furnace or boiler which prevents fuel from being pushed off the grate, and may also support one end of the fire bars.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > furnace or kiln > furnace > parts of furnace > [noun] > walls or barriers in furnaces
fireback1566
spirit-plate1686
hem1693
fire bridge1821
bridge1823
water bridge1837
furnace-bridge1874
1821 W. Forster Treat. Section of Strata (ed. 2) iii. 401 The simplest..consists of a rectangular Fireplace thirteen inches long eight broad and eleven in depth, with a Fire-bridge of the thickness of a brick.
1854 E. Ronalds & T. Richardson Knapp's Chem. Technol. I. 263 Admitting a current of air behind, or through the fire-bridge.
1937 H. A. Romp Oil Burning ii. x. 117 A fire bridge of refractory material strongly promotes a steady, stable oil fire.
2000 B. Cullingford Brit. Chimney Sweeps iii. 52 He then climbs down and shovels the soot over the firebridge and into the ashpit of the furnace.
fire brief n. now historical and rare a letter or notice requesting financial assistance for victims of a fire.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > correspondence > letter > [noun] > letter intended for many recipients
fire briefa1643
circular letter1659
circulatory letter1668
circular1818
omnibus letter1861
round robin1871
chain letter1906
form letter1909
the mind > language > speech > request > [noun] > one who requests or petitions > letter or document
bill1377
petition1414
supplicationc1419
subligationc1600
fire briefa1643
begging-letter1849
slum1851
a1643 W. Cartwright Poems in Comedies (1651) sig. Ov We laugh at fire-Briefs now, although they be Commended to us by his Majesty.
1777 T. Horde As World Goes i. 13 Why, Madam, to be truly pious is to intrigue obscurely, and pray openly; to over-reach in a corner, yet give alms at a fire-brief.
1820 Christian Observer Aug. 517/2 With regard to fire briefs, they might be abolished altogether, without injury to any party. Insurance-offices have superseded the necessity for them.
1989 Albion 21 578 Other collections listed in the accounts for various relief include a fire brief in Cheshire.
† fire-broil n. Obsolete a great heat from a fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > [noun] > heat of a fire or conflagration
fire-broil1582
fire heat1659
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 49 Then my holye domestical housgods, In last nights fyrebroyls [L. ignibus], that from Troy skorched I saulued.
† fire-burning adj. Obsolete (a) that burns with fire; burning; (b) that burns like fire; fiery; ardent, fervent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > passion > ardour or fervour > [adjective]
hotOE
anguishous?c1225
fire-burningc1275
burninga1340
ardentc1374
warm1390
fervent14..
fieryc1430
fired1561
feverous1576
glowinga1577
fervorous1602
ferventeda1627
tropica1631
torrid1646
fervid1656
candenta1687
ardurousa1770
tropical1795
aestuous1844
thermal1866
thermonous1888
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [adjective] > of the nature of or resembling flame > flaming or blazing > emitting flames or fire
fire-burningc1275
fire-foaming1552
fire-mouthed1590
fire-spitting1590
fire-breathing1592
ignivomous1603
flame-darting1608
flame-snortinga1618
flame-breathing1626
flammivomous1663
c1275 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 53 And swo he me wule for-swolehen, þe fur-berninde drake.
a1450 ( tr. Vegetius De Re Militari (Douce) f. 119 (MED) Grete querelles wiþ fire brennynge hedes.
1562 T. Cooper Answere Def. Truth f. 14v, in Apol. Priuate Masse But your scaulding hotte and firebourning charitee may bee more iustly charged with the continuance thereof.
1595 F. Sabie Fissher-mans Tale sig. C3v I went from thence, but altogether lame, And wounded with a fire-burning dart.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 701 There appeard vnto them a bore..hauing fire-burning eies, a despiteful looke..and euery way feruent.
1652 J. Sparrow tr. J. Böhme Of Christs Test. 10/2 In the Supper is powred into it, the fire-burning Love in the Life of our Lord Jesus Christ.
fire burning n. †(a) a burn (obsolete rare); (b) the burning of something with fire; (also) a deliberate or malicious act of burning.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > [noun] > burn or scald
scaldinga1398
fire burning?a1425
combustion?1541
burning1542
ambustion1590
burn1594
scald1601
ustion1607
scorch1611
powder burn1864
flash burn1946
?a1425 (?1373) Lelamour Herbal (1938) f. 25v (MED) Oyle made of the sede called paynter oyll is gode to a-noynte for fire brenynge.
1649 J. Ellistone tr. J. Böhme Epist. v. xxviii. 72 It [sc. the soule] must now..endure the fire-burning [the curse and anger of God..] till the day of Separation.
1859 in E. Ruffin Diary Nov. (1972) 359 The fire burnings, of barns &c., near Charlestown, were all of neighboring farmers who had served as jurors on the trial of Brown &c.
1969 Greenfield (Mass.) Recorder, Gaz. & Courier 24 Jan. 10/5 The broadcast compared the fire-burnings..to the sacrifices of the early Christian martyrs.
2015 K. Maclean Cultural Hybridity & Environment viii. 156 This Aboriginal man clarifies that fire burning is the only way to..get green grass back and to make it easier for animals.
firecage n. a cage-like container or receptacle for a fire, spec. one suspended from a post, used as a lantern or beacon.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > portable receptacle for burning fuel
fire paneOE
heartheOE
fire vessela1382
chafer1395
chimneyc1420
chafing-dish1483
coal pan1530
fire chauffer1558
brazeraine1623
brasero1652
brazier1690
firecage1770
fire-holder1789
fire basket1798
mangal1814
komfoor1841
rodney1848
Jack1849
chip pan1854
reredos1859
hibachi1863
scaldino1866
chafing-pan1867
salamander1873
1770 J. Smeaton Reports (1812) I. 266 Plan and section of the fire-cage and hearth.
1795 P. Dunvan Anc. & Mod. Hist. Lewes & Brighthelmston 517 All manner of town charges whatsoever..whether it be for the maintenance of the church,..the lights in the fire-cage, [etc.]
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 862/2 Fire-cage, a skeleton box or basket of iron for holding lighted fuel.
1924 Times of India 18 July a8 The combustion arrangements consist of a fireclay tube which admits air into the conical shaped fire cage.
2007 D. D'enno Brighton Crime & Vice 16 Suspended from the cliffs at West Street Gap was Brighton's fire-cage, made of iron hoops within which, at night, a fire..was lit to serve as a guide to fishermen returning to shore.
2007 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 29 Sept. (Gardening) 2 The Grilltech Revolver firepit..comes with both cooking grills and protective internal firecages for the charcoal or wood.
† fire cane n. Obsolete (a) a cane used to light a fire by friction; (b) a long pole tipped with a flammable substance and set alight, used to set fire to enemy vessels .
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > torch or brand
fire stickc1300
firebrandc1330
fire-blazea1500
firing?c1500
stick of firec1510
lunt1550
tede1562
fire-link1579
fire cane1644
brand1810
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > match, spill, or taper for lighting > specifically ignited by friction
allumette1601
fire cane1644
paper match1780
Strasbourg match1825
match1830
lucifer match1831
fusee1832
loco-foco1835
oxymuriatic match1835
Congreve1839
Vesta1839
friction-match1847
safety match1850
German Congreve1851
Vesuvian1853
star1862
safety1876
tandstickor1884
post-and-railsa1890
book match1899
Swan Vesta1908
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > a fire > [noun] > fire-brand
brandc950
fire stickc1300
firebrandc1330
stick of firec1510
fire-link1579
fire cane1644
1644 K. Digby Two Treat. i. xvii. 147 Indian canes (..called firecanes) being rubbed with some other sticke of the same nature..will of themselues sett on fire.
1652 Moderate Intelligencer No. 168. 2620 The Dutch Captains say they are ready to receive them at their coming forth, having now well furnished their ships with Granadoes.., and with abundance of Fire-canes and Pikes, 15 foot long a piece; which being kindled at top, cast out a very raging fire, with a thick clammy matter, which immediately takes hold, and fires the cordage.
1746 J. Freke Ess. Cause Electr. 8 Fire-Canes, rubbed together smartly, will take Fire.
1808 Morning Post 30 Sept. 1/1 The Patentees at the same time beg to recommend their Patent Fire Cane to Gentlemen of the Army and Navy, and travellers in general.
1920 D. C. Beard Amer. Boys Handybk. Camp-lore & Woodcraft ii. 23 Notwithstanding the fire canes of our Colonial dudes.., fire by percussion, that is, fire by friction of flint and steel, was universal here in America up to a quite recent date.
† fire cask n. Obsolete a barrel of water provided as a fire precaution on board ship.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > sources of water
firehole1682
firecock1707
fireplug1709
fire cask1800
firewater1916
1800 in A. Duncan Mariner's Chron. (1805) III. 101 The only article we now wanted was water. I recollected the fire-cask in the mizen-chains.
1840 John Bull 3 Oct. 480/1 The fire cask and buckets in the after cockpit were fortunately close to the cabin door, and they soon put the fire out.
1870 Derby Mercury 8 June 3/2 Fire casks filled with a solution of soda and water, and buckets and bags of sand.
fire certificate n. a certificate (usually issued by a local authority) confirming that premises conform with current statutory fire regulations.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > [noun] > precaution > certificate confirming fire precautions taken
fire certificate1896
1896 Yorks. Herald 9 May 6 The usual fire certificate under the Factory Acts was granted to the Northallerton Linoleum Company.
1963 Offices, Shops & Railway Premises Act c. 41 §29(1) A certificate (hereinafter in this Act referred to as a ‘fire certificate’) issued..by the appropriate authority..that the premises are provided with such means of escape in case of fire for the persons employed to work therein..as may reasonably be required.
2014 Irish Times (Nexis) 17 May Once the fire certificate is in place he's hoping to have the build completed in eight weeks.
fire chamber n. an enclosed space in which fire is maintained, as in a furnace or a kiln.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > boiler > [noun] > parts of > compartments
fireplace1611
firebox1735
fire chamber1808
water space1824
water pocket1863
steam-space1867
steam-room1875
society > occupation and work > equipment > furnace or kiln > furnace > [noun] > furnaces for melting or refining metals > furnaces for treating iron > puddling furnaces > part of
fire chamber1808
binding-plate1875
1808 T. G. Fessenden Reg. Arts 257 The moveable furnace is of an oblong shape, and is constructed with a fire-chamber, and ash-pit.
1859 W. J. M. Rankine Man. Steam Engine §303 In the External Furnace Boiler, the furnace or fire-chamber is wholly outside of..the water vessel or boiler.
1991 B. G. Wood Sociol. Pottery Anc. Palestine i. 28 The circular fire chamber was subterranean, which minimized heat losses and provided easy access to the upper chamber from the working surface where the vessels were fabricated.
† fire chauffer n. Obsolete rare a metal basket used to contain a fire; = chauffer n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > portable receptacle for burning fuel
fire paneOE
heartheOE
fire vessela1382
chafer1395
chimneyc1420
chafing-dish1483
coal pan1530
fire chauffer1558
brazeraine1623
brasero1652
brazier1690
firecage1770
fire-holder1789
fire basket1798
mangal1814
komfoor1841
rodney1848
Jack1849
chip pan1854
reredos1859
hibachi1863
scaldino1866
chafing-pan1867
salamander1873
1558 in J. Raine Wills & Inventories N. Counties Eng. (1835) I. 162 ij fyer chavffers.
fire cheek n. the side or surround of a fireplace; cf. cheek n. 6b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for heating buildings, rooms, etc. > hearth or fireplace > sides
speera1600
ingle-cheekc1774
covings1796
fire cheek1825
1825 Blackwood's Mag. Oct. 461/2 So fain was he to find a rest for his weary carcase in our stuffed chintz pattern elbow-chair by the fire cheek.
1887 E. C. Robins Techn. School & College Building vii. 171 One of the best forms is where the fire-cheeks are of polished steel, set at an angle of 45° with the back of the stove and projecting in front of the fire-bars.
1951 S. H. Bell December Bride i. iii. 28 Fergus Pentland rose lazily from the table-corner on which he had seated himself to lean against the firecheek.
† fire chemise n. Obsolete rare a piece of cloth soaked with a flammable substance and set alight, used to set fire to an enemy vessel.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > naval weapons and equipment > [noun] > incendiary weapons or materials
fire pike1483
fire-hoop1585
fire-wreath1639
fire-crancel1667
fire chemise1728
fire-bavin1779
blanket1816
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > fire, radiation, or chemical weapons > [noun] > fire as weapon
fire?c1225
Greek fire?c1225
Greekish fire?c1225
wildfire1297
firework1528
liquid firea1616
dragoon1626
fire chemise1728
Grecian fire1774
chemise-
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Chemise Fire Chemise, is a piece of Linen Cloth, steep'd in a Composition of..combustible Matters; us'd at Sea, to set fire to the Enemy's Vessel.
1863 J. Paitton Report 27 Jan. in Papers Relative to Mexican Affairs (1865) (U.S. Dept. of State) 98 (table) 1 fire chemise.
fire chief n. originally and chiefly U.S. the head of a fire department; an officer in charge of a group of firefighters.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > fire-brigade > chief of fire-brigade
firemaster1702
water engineer1711
fireward1714
fire warden1724
fire chief1847
fire marshal1854
1847 N. Cleaveland Green-Wood Illustr. 96 The first engineer—the patriarch of New York fire-chiefs—was Anthony Lamb.
1861 Observer 7 July 6 The ‘great fire chief’..told them in very plain terms that he would use every possible exertion to save property both for the company and the life offices.
1989 Wall St. Jrnl. 13 Nov. 1 ‘The fire didn't cause any serious injuries,’..said John McCormack, a deputy fire chief on the scene.
2014 TradeArabia 14 Sept. Fire-fighters preparing to enter a building could use wearable displays to connect to the fire chief outside.
fire-churn n. now historical a device for lighting a fire by friction, consisting of a fire drill (fire drill n. (b)) and fireboard (fireboard n. 4).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > mechanical device
fire stickc1300
flint-mill1757
fire piston1846
gas poker1855
gas lighter1856
fire drill1861
fire-churn1863
lighter1875
hand drill1891
fire-plough1893
electric wand1898
wax jack1937
1863 W. K. Kelly Curiosities Indo-European Trad. ii. 41 The Aryans saw in the fire-churn, or chark, a working model of the apparatus by which the fires of heaven were kindled.
1865 E. B. Tylor Res. Early Hist. Mankind ix. 253 Churning fiercely at the fire-churn.
1984 Z. A. Ragozin Hist. Vedic India v. 160 The simple apparatus might be called a fire-drill or fire-churn, since the action consisted in rapidly twirling the upper piece..in the lower hollowed piece.
firecock n. a tap or valve regulating the supply of water to the site of a fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > sources of water
firehole1682
firecock1707
fireplug1709
fire cask1800
firewater1916
1707 Act 6 Anne c. 58 §1 To the Intent such Plugs or Fire Cocks may always upon Occasion of any Fire be opened.
1844 Proc. Inst. Civil Engineers 3 318 In enclosed premises..firecocks are much to be preferred [to plugs].
1910 Manch. Guardian 19 Mar. 4 (advt.) The [Manchester Corporation] Waterwork Committee invite tenders for the supply of..manhole frames, firecock boxes, &c.
2012 C. Shenton Day Parl. burned Down v. 79 Altogether there were nine plugs and firecocks open, and twelve engines at work before 7 p.m.
† fire-coffer n. Obsolete rare a type of fireship; cf. fireship n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > war vessel > [noun] > fireship
fire vessela1382
palander1524
fire boata1615
fireship1626
mine shipc1643
machine-vessel1694
fire raft1759
catamaran1804
fire-coffer1804
fire-junk1822
volcano-ship1860
1804 Naval Chron. 12 331 Four of what is called Fire-coffers, filled with combustibles.
fire colour n. a red or orange colour like that of fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > orange > [noun] > bright orange
fire colour1485
flame-colour1608
international orange1928
1485 Croniclis of Englonde (St. Albans) i. sig. avj The watyr colur representis the flode that is passit the fyeer colur be tokyns the Iugement to cum.
1653 J. Rogers Ohel or Beth-Shemesh i. ii. 17 Nature, who hath drawne with her Pencill a perfect Grasse-greene in the Emerald, (as Pliny sayes) a skie-colour in the Saphire, a fire colour in the Carbuncle.
1811 J. Pinkerton Petralogy II. 96 One pretty large [Labrador stone], of the scarce fire-colour with the purple tinge.
2014 Huffington Post (Nexis) 13 Feb. When I read this, my hair, which is already red since birth, turned an even brighter red—almost fire color—indicating my rising temperature.
fire commissioner n. originally U.S. an official with overall responsibility for fire services and emergency planning within a particular city, district, etc.
ΚΠ
1839 Logansport (Indiana) Tel. 30 Nov. 2/6 The Fire Commissioners of New York have reported..their belief that of the seventeen fires in that city during the month of October, twelve were the work of incendiaries.
1911 N. Amer. Rev. Nov. 699 Fire Commissioner Waldo's order for more fire escapes upon factories was fought in the courts by the manufacturers.
2014 Newham Recorder (Nexis) 30 Apr. a18 London Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, said: ‘Air traffic incidents are extremely rare, but it is my responsibility to ensure that our fire and rescue teams..are ready.’
fire company n. originally and chiefly U.S. (a) a fire insurance company; (b) a company of people responsible for putting out fires; a fire brigade.Before the 19th cent., the two senses were closely linked, as fire insurance companies formed and employed their own fire brigades, who would only provide a service to customers of the company. Now the term applies chiefly to sense (b); sense (a) usually only occurs in the proper names of insurance companies.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > insurance > [noun] > insurance company (specific)
fire office1684
fire company1737
life office1799
life company1806
Re1952
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > fire-brigade
fire company1737
fire department1798
fire brigade1832
fire service1843
fire command1891
1737 Daily Post 14 Sept. The Fire Companies in an especial Manner always direct their Engines to preserve such Houses as are insured in their respective Offices.
1744 Pennsylvania. Gaz. 14 Dec. 4/2 The Union Fire-Company of Philadelphia.
1789 Hist. Rev. N. Amer. I. 181 Insurance offices of almost every kind are opened here. Insurance Fire Companies have been lately established.
1849 E. Chamberlain Indiana Gazetteer 373 There are in the town..two fire companies and engines.
1880 Harper's Mag. July 208/2 Several of the members belonged to the volunteer fire-companies, then in the height of their glory.
1915 Cincinnati Ann. Rep. 1914 343 Temporary quarters have been provided for Fire Company No. 54.
1988 A. Cote & P. Bugbee Princ. Fire Protection i. 6 Consolidation of the fire companies in London in 1833 into the London Fire Engine Establishment.
2007 Reading (Pa.) Eagle (Nexis) 14 Sept. Offers from local fire companies..to loan engines, firefighter gear and equipment have been coming in to Schuylkill Hose Fire Company.
2013 A. Mohun Risk i. i. 28 The Massachusetts Mutual Fire Company..reserved the right not to pay if ‘it should be proved that the insured purposely burnt the property’.
fire control n. (a) the regulation or control of artillery fire, esp. in gun batteries; (b) the control or prevention of outbreaks of fire; the measures taken to achieve this.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military operations > distribution of troops > military position > [noun] > position for control of guns
fire control1880
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > management of artillery > [noun]
fireworking1697
artilleryship1762
fire control1880
1880 Sat. Rev. 4 Sept. 296/1 The fire-control of each company is the matter which lies more immediately within the compass of the captain's discretion.
1886 J. H. A. Macdonald Common Sense on Parade 118 What is wanted is the conviction in the mind of every instructor..that his men should never leave a parade without having gained something in fire discipline,—that is, that fire control drill be one of the main points in view as a necessary part of the work to be performed on every occasion when men are being drilled, [etc.].
1905 Washington Post 5 May 5 Gen. A. W. Greely, chief signal officer of the United States Army..will..start the work of permanent installation of the fire control system.
1907 Forest & Stream 19 Jan. 96 Experiment stations have been established..and more foresters appointed, while fire control is showing good results.
1935 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 39 875 Thirty diagrams illustrate problems of fire control arising out of attacks by fighter formations on light bombing formations.
1947 Washington Post 16 Feb. m1 Public housing authorities hastened to prepare more drastic fire control measures.
2013 Wall St. Jrnl. 15 June a9/1 The reason rebels are running out of ammunition is because they lack expertise in fire control and have been hoarding their supplies.
fire crack n. a crack formed by heat, esp. by uneven heating.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > [noun] > a crack or breach > specific type of or having specific cause
fire crack1656
star1838
flake1866
shrinkage crack1867
snowflake1919
microfracture1939
microcrack1950
1656 J. Sparrow tr. J. Böhme Aurora xxv. 606 The fire-crack [Ger. Fewrschrack] goeth before, which riseth up out of the anxietie of the water in the Heate.
1802 T. Gale Electricity iv. 252 There will be sometimes almost imperceptible little fire-cracks in the glass.
2008 Midcontinental Jrnl. Archaeol. 33 50 Several fire cracks and star-shaped cracks were noted on vessel interiors.
fire-cracking n. the occurrence or development of fire cracks.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > [noun] > in specific way or having specific cause
elision1615
fire-cracking1806
crazing1832
microcracking1956
1806 J. Hassell Mem. Life George Morland 16 By long experience in the arts of stenselling, varnishing, and fire-cracking, they can produce the tempered harmony..and energy of the Berghens.
1923 R. Glazebrook Dict. Appl. Physics V. 424/2 This ‘fire-cracking’ can be entirely prevented by a previous heat treatment at a much lower temperature.
2004 South Afr. Archaeol. Bull. 59 19/2 Some rocks showed fire-cracking in situ.
fire crew n. (a) (with plural or singular agreement) (the members of) the crew on a steam ship responsible for stoking the furnace (now chiefly historical); (b) a team of firefighters.
ΚΠ
1886 Engin. News 16 133/1 It also did away with the necessity of a fire crew.., a circumstance which any one who had watched stokers in the hold of a coal-burning ship..would appreciate.
1901 Hamilton (Ohio) Democrat 31 Jan. 5/1 The Second ward fire crew was summoned..and the furnace was soon flooded, quenching the flames.
2013 C. Gerteis & C. S. George Japan since 1945 xiii. 234 Fire crew who fed coal to the great boilers in the bowels of the ship, were Korean and Chinese colonials.
2014 S. Yorks. Times (Nexis) 19 Mar. Fire crews spent more than three hours tackling a blaze which ripped across a farmer's field.
† fire-crome n. Obsolete a large, long-handled hook for handling burning material; = fire hook n. 1; cf. crome n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > hook for pulling down buildings
fire hook1395
fire crook1656
fire pole1736
fire-crome1787
pike-pole1847
1787 Terrier of Woodbridge 11 Three Fire Cromes.
a1852 W. T. Spurdens Forby's Vocab. E. Anglia (1858) III. 11 We have muck-crooms, fire-crooms, mud-crooms, as well as croom-sticks.
1899 Athenæum 2 Sept. 329/2 The head of a great fire-hook or fire-crome was noted.
fire crook n. now historical and rare a large, long-handled hook for handling burning material, esp. one used by firefighters to pull down walls, ceilings, etc., in burning buildings; = fire hook n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > hook for pulling down buildings
fire hook1395
fire crook1656
fire pole1736
fire-crome1787
pike-pole1847
1656 W. Davenant Siege of Rhodes 29 The Fire-crooks are too short!
1802 Bury & Norwich Post 29 Dec. About four or five and twenty men.., without fire-crooks, and with but a scanty supply of water..prevented the conflagration.
2007 Hist. Soc. Res. 32 230 Having devices at hand which facilitate fighting a fire, such as buckets, ladders or fire crooks.
fire-cure v. transitive to cure (tobacco, leather, etc.) over a fire.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with skins > work with skins [verb (transitive)] > other processes
curry14..
shave1467
dress1511
slaughter1603
raise1607
scutch1688
chamois1728
braya1835
break1842
fellmonger1843
fire-cure1848
crimp1849
board1860
pebble1862
soft-board1878
sam1883
stock1883
nourish1884
buff1885
pinwheel1885
sammy1885
wheel1885
unlime1888
1848 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1847 170 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (30th Congr., 1st Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 54) VI One parcel was put in the barn and fire-cured.
1900 O. Loew Physiol. Stud. Connecticut Leaf Tobacco (U.S. Dept. Agric. Rep. No. 65) 34 Tobaccos that had been fire-cured, as the plug tobaccos, contain in most cases neither oxidase, peroxidase, nor catalase.
2013 N.Y. Times Mag. 14 Apr. 38/2 It was a flavor so rich and full..that it did not require any special treatment. It [sc. the tobacco] could be planted, harvested, fire-cured and smoked exactly as it was.
fire-cured adj. (of tobacco, leather, etc.) cured over a fire.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > leather > [adjective] > prepared or finished in specific way
semys1508
well-curried?1562
chamoised1620
fire-cured1844
shamoyed1857
sueded1888
oozed1897
mulled1919
patent1953
roughout1957
1844 Southern Planter Feb. 36/1 The fire cured weighed 3 pounds and ¾ of an ounce, and the sun cured weighed 2 pounds 8 ounces.
1899 Atlantic Monthly 83 758/2 The pliant sandals of fire-cured skin.
1988 T. Vennum Wild Rice & Ojibway People ii. 46 Parched rice required half an hour [to cook], and fire-cured black rice took twice as long.
2013 Richmond (Va.) Times Disp. (Nexis) 13 Aug. d4 Fire-cured tobacco yields are expected to average 2,000 pounds per acre, down 300 pounds from 2012.
fire-curing n. the action or process of curing tobacco, leather, etc., over a fire.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with skins > [noun] > other processes of treating leather
curryc1430
currying1481
fire-curing1844
buffing1856
boarding1870
pebbling1875
skivinga1884
nourishment1897
seasoning1897
samming1909
1844 Southern Planter Feb. 36/2 A difference of opinion exists among planters relative to the greater loss of tobacco in the process of sun and fire curing.
c1943 Everyday Things & their Story 98/1 In fire-curing, slow wood fires are lighted in trenches running across the barn floor, the smoke coming into direct contact with the tobacco leaf.
2009 Copley News Service (Nexis) 11 Sept. Known as fire-curing, it puts tobacco into direct contact with the smoke generated by smoldering hardwoods.
fire curtain n. (a) a curtain, screen, etc., made of fire-resistant material, esp. one used in a theatre; (b) Military a concentration of rapid and continuous artillery or machine-gun fire, etc., on a designated line or area; = curtain n.1 3b.In quot. 1744: (perhaps) a fire screen or guard.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > [noun] > type of firing
point and blank1590
false fire1602
potting1613
point-blank1614
running fire1629
pounding1633
bulleting1635
platooning1706
sharp-shot1725
street firing1727
ricochet1740
fire curtain1744
plunging fire1747
reverse fire1758
sniping1773
enfilade1796
rapid fire1800
line-firing1802
concentric1804
sharpshooting1806
rake1810
sniping fire1821
cross-firing1837
file-firing1837
curved fire1854
night firing1856
file-fire1857
volley-firing1859
cross-fire1860
joy-firing1864
snap-shooting1872
stringing1873
pot-shooting1874
indirect fire1879
sweeping1907
rapid1913
curtain of fire1916
ripple1939
ripple-firing1940
ripple fire1961
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > quality of being incombustible > [noun] > making fire-proof > obstacle to spread of fire > curtain
fire curtain1744
1744 Inventory 18 Jan. in F. W. Steer Farm & Cottage Inventories Mid-Essex 1635–1749 (1969) 270 The coal racks, a pair of iron cheeks, fender, shovel, tongs, poker,..a fire curtain and rod, two window curtains and rods, a pair of bellows.
1883 Standard 25 July The effects of a continuous stream of water on a theatrical fire curtain.
1912 P. McKeon Fire Prevention 153 The proscenium arch has a fire curtain.
1916 G. B. Shaw in N.Y. Tribune 22 Oct. v. 1/1 These curtains..were really showers of bombshells..they were called fire curtains.
2011 M. Tlamim tr. M. Finkel On Flexibility xii. 214 Vast amounts of ammunition must be prepared, the fire curtain strictly controlled, and friendly fire avoided.
2014 P. Menzer in A. Gurr & F. Karim-Cooper Moving Shakespeare Indoors ii. viii. 168 When the fire curtain falls at a West End theatre, it is both a safety measure and a celebration.
fire dance n. a dance which uses fire as part of the performance; esp. a ritual dance of this type.
ΚΠ
1761 tr. P. de Charlevoix Jrnl. Voy. N.-Amer. I. xv. 347 This Madam is all I saw of the fire-dance [Fr. Danse du feu].
1895 Goshen (Indiana) Weekly News 23 Nov. 2/3 The tribes at Elkhart and Warsaw were represented and took part in the fire dance and soup eating.
1948 Slavonic & E. European Rev. 26 470 In 1939 only three woman in the village of Bulgari danced the actual fire-dance on glowing embers.
2009 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 28 Oct. a10/4 The fire dance begins. To the hypnotic pounding of drums, more than 20 devotees dressed as Indians jump through burning pyres of wood.
fire department n. (a) (chiefly U.S.) a body of firefighters; (in later use) an agency or organization charged with fighting fires in a particular jurisdiction and typically having control of a number of fire stations; †(b) a department that deals with fire insurance (obsolete); cf. fire company n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > fire-brigade
fire company1737
fire department1798
fire brigade1832
fire service1843
fire command1891
1798 Laws State N.Y. (21st Sess.) xl. 332 All such persons as now are, or hereafter shall be, engineers of the fire department, or fire-men, belonging to any of the fire engines of the city of New-York, shall be..ordained, constituted and declared to be..a body politic, in fact and in name, by the name of the ‘Fire Department of the city of New-York’.
1823 Manch. Guardian 4 Oct. 1 (heading) British Commercial Insurance Company..Life Department..Fire Department.
1838 Scotsman 10 Mar. 3 In the Fire Department also the business of the [North British Insurance] Company is steadily improving.
1855 H. Clarke New Dict. Eng. Lang. Fire department, body of firemen.
1906 Pop. Mech. June 620/2 The mains were broken by the shock, thus rendering the fire department helpless except along the water front, where salt water was available from the bay.
2007 Cincinnati Mag. May 180/2 ‘Where's the fire department?’ ‘They're on their way.’
fire discipline n. Military an instruction or method for discharging firearms as commanded, so that the work of a unit is coordinated; cf. fire control n. (a).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > drill or training > [noun] > weapon-training > firing practice
artillery practice1781
ball practice1803
fire discipline1870
blank practice1873
shoot1941
1870 H. A. Ouvry tr. P. Bronsart von Schellendorff On Prussian Infantry 1869 vi. 37 Only cool and able leaders are fit for their position, and that with such only, the fire discipline [Ger. Feuerdisziplin] which is requisite for this mode of firing can be maintained.
1897 Cavalry Tactics xvii. 121 Fire discipline must be strictly enforced, both to ensure accurate shooting at the indicated object and to control the ammunition expenditure.
1994 N. DeMille Spencerville xxxviii. 429 You had to make a quick calculation, had to decide when to maintain fire discipline, and when to go for it.
fire dog n. either of a pair of (typically ornamental) metal stands used for supporting burning wood in a fireplace; = andiron n. (cf. dog n.1 8).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for heating buildings, rooms, etc. > hearth or fireplace > andiron or fire-dog
brandisec1000
andirona1300
brandiron1381
brandreth1400
landiron1459
dog iron1534
creeper1556
dog1587
glim-fenders1699
fire dog1751
1751 Virginia Gaz. 8 Aug. Curious Brass Fenders and Fire Dogs, House Bells of all Sizes.
1792 Massachusetts Spy 1 Mar. 3/1 [He] caught a fire-dog, which he threw with such force that he knocked down one of the ruffians.
1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge x. 289 The fire-dogs in the common room.
1917 Boys' Life Nov. 54/2 Reddy returned to the fireplace and his previous occupation of abusing the fire-dogs.
2006 Early Homes Winter 52/1 Also called fire dogs, these cast-iron or cast-brass supports hold logs off the floor of the firebox.
fire dragon n. a dragon; (also) a kind of firework; a comet or meteor; = firedrake n. (in various senses). [Compare fiery dragon at fiery adj. 1b.]
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > mythical creature or object > [noun] > dragon
drakea1000
firedrakeOE
wormOE
adderOE
dragona1225
fire dragonc1475
fiendc1540
fenne1567
pen-dragon1601
water dragon1689
c1475 Gregory's Chron. in J. Gairdner Hist. Coll. Citizen London (1876) 63 (MED) Ande the same tyme were sene in the ayre fyre dragons.
1556 in J. G. Nichols Chron. Grey Friars (1852) 3 In the ayre was sene fyere draggons and sprettes flyenge.
1603 S. Harsnett Declar. Popish Impostures xxii. 142 The assembly should tremble, to see the deuill whirle about in the similitude of a snake, as a fire-dragon spoutes, & whirles in the ayre.
1712 J. Morton Nat. Hist. Northants. v. 349 This Kind of Meteors hath been distributed by the Ancient Meteorologist into several Species with the Names of Fiery Darts and Spears, of Flying Lances, Fire Dragons, Burning Beams, Pyramidal Pillars, and the like, as if they really were of determinate Forms.
1873 Aldine 5 19/3 Blazed with the dazzling image of the fire-dragon.
1979 N.Y. Times 4 July a2 China has successfully tested a ballistic missile..[that] ‘soared into the sky like a fire dragon’.
1991 J. Chang Wild Swans (1993) xxii. 534 In the evenings, the serpentine curve of some distant mountains burned like a dramatic fire dragon silhouetted against the dark sky.
fire drill n. (a) a rehearsal of the action to be taken in the event of fire; (b) a stick twirled between the hands into a depression in a flat piece of wood to produce fire by friction; cf. fireboard n. 4 (now chiefly historical).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > mechanical device
fire stickc1300
flint-mill1757
fire piston1846
gas poker1855
gas lighter1856
fire drill1861
fire-churn1863
lighter1875
hand drill1891
fire-plough1893
electric wand1898
wax jack1937
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > rehearsal of action in event of fire
fire drill1861
1861 Daily Evening Bull. (San Francisco) 23 July Their premiums are payable monthly on the close of the monthly fire-drill and inspection.
1865 E. B. Tylor Res. Early Hist. Mankind ix. 228 The use of the fire-drill.
1913 J. Vaizey College Girl xviii. 264 [It's] the fire drill! They've had an alarm, and she's told to shut off draughts.
1998 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 22 Oct. 69/1 There are the pen and pencil museum sketches—hand axes, baskets, fire drills, mosquito fans, feather holders—that one hardly sees in monographs anymore.
2008 Independent 28 Aug. 29/4 Fires are rare, but we still do fire drills.
fire-drilling n. now chiefly historical the action or process of starting a fire with a fire drill.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > [noun] > going or setting on fire > setting on fire or alight > making or kindling of fire > specific method
fire-drilling1865
1865 E. B. Tylor Res. Early Hist. Mankind ix. 237 It comes much nearer than ‘fire-drilling’ to the yet simpler process of striking fire with two pieces of split bamboo.
1942 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. 47 535 The methods by which such epoch-making innovations as, say, fire-drilling, gained acceptance in early times.
2006 L. E. Wright Diet, Health & Status among Pasión Maya iv. 42/1 Coggins..suggests that mirrors were used in ritual fire-drilling in order to light a new fire to restart the annual agricultural cycle.
fire dropper n. a person who clears the remains of a fire from the firebox of a steam engine.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > rail travel > railway worker > [noun] > one who lights or removes fire
lighter-up1847
fire dropper1898
1898 Liverpool Weekly Courier 9 Apr. 2/7 He was a fire dropper—drawing the fires from locomotives.
1924 W. G. Chapman Caerphilly Castle xii. 103 When a fire is cleaned a fire-dropper, standing on the foot-plate, shovels out through the fire-hole all the clinker and dirt in the fire by means of a long-handled shovel.
2003 M. D. Wells Life on Land & Sea iv. 76 You..moved the engine down to the ash pit where the fire droppers would empty the firebox and ash pans.
fire ecologist n. an expert in or student of fire ecology.
ΚΠ
1974 Jrnl. Range Managem. 27 383 Wood boring insect activity in mesquite wood is of interest to fire ecologists because infested trees are much easier to burn down than uninfested trees.
1996 Economist 14 Sept. 57/3 As James Agee, a fire ecologist, points out, ‘We cannot be so bold as to think we can eliminate fire from the landscape’.
2006 T. Ingalsbee in G. Wuerthner Wildfire Reader 299 Fire ecologists have plenty of scientific research and empirical evidence to demonstrate the wisdom of restoring wild-land fire.
fire ecology n. the branch of environmental science concerned with the relationships between incidences of fire and the processes taking place within an ecosystem, esp. where fires are a regular occurrence; the ecology of the ecosystems and species affected by fires.
ΚΠ
1962 Ecol. Monogr. 32 97/2 (title) Fire Ecology: the Interaction of Substratum and Fire in the Differentiation of Grassland and Shrubland in a Forest Climate.
1980 Roswell (New Mexico) Daily Rec. 5 Oct. 11/4 Because fire ecology has not been studied extensively in New Mexico, other federal and state agencies have expressed an interest in the program.
2003 P. Alaback et al. in G. A. Bradshaw & P. A. Marquet How Landscapes Change iv. 57 Myriad studies have been done on the fire ecology of the forests in western North America.
fire escape n. a means by which to escape from a fire, spec. an external staircase, ladder, etc., used to escape from the upper floors of a building on fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [noun] > means of escape > from a fire
fire ladder1648
fire escape1725
escape1810
1725 Daily Courant 23 Apr. Fire-escapes. A Conveniency to descend from the Window of any House, to prevent the great Calamity many have fallen into when the Stairs have been on Fire.
1788 W. Dafour Specif. Patent 1652 1 A Machine called a Fire escape.
1832 Examiner 678/1 They..rush to the fire-escapes.
1947 E. A. McCourt Flaming Hour 81 There's a wooden fire escape leading from my bedroom window.
2001 J. Hansen One True Friend (2005) 42 We sit on the fire escape, but he's learning that sitting on the fire escape is not the same thing as going outside to play.
fire exit n. an exit designated (only) for escape in the event of a fire.
ΚΠ
1876 Amer. Architect & Building News 16 Dec. 401/2 There was a fire-exit from the dress-circle to Flood's Alley.
1929 F. Nebel in O. Penzler Black Lizard Big Bk. of Pulps (2007) 734/2 ‘I'm a tenement-house inspector’... ‘What do you want to look for?’ ‘Just see about lights, fire exits.’
2014 Walsall Advertiser (Nexis) 8 May 9 Officers went to the hotel after concern was expressed by a guest that mattresses were blocking a fire exit on the first floor.
fire fan n. (a) a small hand-held fire screen (see fire screen n. 1a); †(b) a mechanically powered fan in a portable forge for producing a current of air (obsolete rare).
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > screen > [noun] > fire-screen > specific type
fire fan1619
pole-screen1789
banner-screen1864
society > occupation and work > equipment > metalworking equipment > [noun] > forging equipment > bellows
bellowsa800
fire blower?a1440
fire bellows?a1500
ball-bellows1634
fire fan1875
1619 Inventory 1 Dec. in Jacobean Househ. Inventories (1938) 89 A great rake, a little rake, a fan, a fierfan, a payre of tonges.
1706 tr. J. B. Morvan de Bellegarde Refl. upon Ridicule 43 They praise..the Fire-Fan that is offer'd them.
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 867/2 Fire-fan, a small blast apparatus adapted to a portable forge.
1998 Econ. Bot. 52 386/1 People fashioned plate substitutes and fire fans from the leaves.
fire faggot n. now rare a bundle of firewood; also in figurative contexts.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > wood as fuel > [noun] > kindling
hostry faggot1594
chat1670
fire faggota1722
hostry-wood1738
kindling wood1783
kindler1791
fire kindling1849
crack1851
split1858
a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 366 I hold hedging-wood and fire-faggots should be cut in October.
1776 J. Barclay Select Coll. Spiritual Songs xix. 44 I am the Vine, the branches ye... Separate at all from me, In whom ye live and move Ye nothing can, nor do, nor be; But must fire-faggots prove.
1828 P. F. Tytler Hist. Scotl. I. iv. 358 Piles of fire fagots, mixed with bundles of pitch and flax..were in readiness.
1937 Folk-lore 48 429/2 Fire faggots in connection with the Fallas festival at Valencia.
fire fiend n. (a) fire personified as an evil and destructive spirit; (b) a fire god or fire spirit; a demon; (c) colloquial an arsonist.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > [noun] > of specific things > fire
fire god1638
fire spirit1647
fire deity1786
fire fiend1803
1803 W. Dimond Hero of North ii. iv. 50 Our dread of the fire-fiend in Hecla's red womb.
1817 T. Moore Lalla Rookh 251 'Tis he..The fellest of the Fire-fiend's brood.
1880 S. R. Riggs Mary & I viii. 127 Before noon the fire-fiend had done his work, and our mission houses were a mass of coals and ashes.
1906 C. Morris San Francisco Calamity by Earthquake & Fire i. 17 It was the rage of the fire-fiend that desolated the metropolis of the lakes.
1918 Munsey's Mag. Dec. 543/1 Wooden sheds shaped like horizontal flues, built on wooden piling and crammed with combustibles, are a constant invitation to the fire fiend.
1990 Hobart (Austral.) Mercury (Nexis) 19 Apr. Detectives hunting Sydney's ‘fire fiend’ said last night that the man..was taking his frustration out on office buildings.
2007 S. Monahan Tombstone's Treasure i. 60 The hoisting works were quickly enveloped in flames, and the wooden supports below fell easy prey to the fire fiend.
2013 Guardian (Nexis) 25 Mar. 25 A non-specific, far-eastern region where fire-fiends live in the mountains.
fire fishing n. U.S. fishing at night in which the light of flaming torches is used to attract or immobilize the fish; a fishing trip conducted in this way.
ΚΠ
1754 M. Catesby & G. Edwards Nat. Hist. Carolina (rev. ed.) II. Index Fire fishing.
1841 R. H. Bonnycastle Canadas in 1841 II. i. 6 We went to see two of the voyageurs launch the canoe for the purpose of fire-fishing.
1978 Elevator Constructor Nov. 21/2 The mullet will be fat with roe... That's when I like to go fire-fishing.
2012 J. Pyne Fire: Nature & Culture 50 As with simple physical pyrotechnologies, this biological pyrotechnology expanded. It underwrote fire hunting, fire foraging, fire farming, fire herding, even fire fishing (the lights would draw fish to where they could be speared.)
† fire-fit adj. Obsolete fit for burning.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > a combustible substance > [adjective]
combustible1529
consumable1574
combustious1593
fire-fit1595
burnable1611
touchy1629
exustible1633
piceous1646
fireable1662
flagrable1669
deflagrablea1691
displosive1712
empyreal1780
flammable1813
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > [adjective] > able to be burnt or combustible
combustible1529
consumable1574
combustious1593
fire-fit1595
adustible1611
burnable1611
exustible1633
piceous1646
ustorious1725
empyreal1780
1595 G. Chapman Ouids Banquet of Sence sig. Cv That lye like fire-fit blocks.
1641 J. Short Soliloquies Theologicall 31 Thou shu'dst throw away the world as waste, And Fire-fit refuse.
fire flag n. rare †(a) poetic a celestial or auroral flame (obsolete); (b) a flag giving warning of fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > constellation > comet or meteor > meteor > [noun] > trail
train1559
fire flag1798
meteor streak1869
meteor trail1895
society > communication > indication > signalling > visual signalling > flag signalling > [noun] > signal flag > specific
black flag1583
yellow flag1587
red flag1748
yellow jack1753
Blue Peter1754
fire flag1798
recall1832
pilot jack1848
homeward-bound pennant1853
powder flag1864
paying-off pennant1869
Peter1890
storm flag1896
negative flag1897
blackball1966
1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere v, in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 27 A hundred fire-flags sheen.
1856 J. G. Whittier in Salem (Mass.) Reg. 1 Sept. 1/4 The Northern Lights are shaking Their fire-flags in the sky!
1879 Ann. Reg. 22 The red ensign reversed (fire-flag) was run up.
1949 Amer. Forests Oct. 8/1 Often gas station attendants warn the motorists..: ‘The fire flag is up today; please be specially careful.’
fire float n. †(a) a buoyant platform or boat used as a waterborne incendiary (obsolete); (b) a barge or boat equipped with a water jet for use in firefighting; cf. fire boat n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessels with other specific uses > [noun] > vessel used to fight fires
fire boata1615
fire float1766
float1890
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > boat to fight fire in harbour
fire boata1615
fire float1766
float1890
1653 Severall Proc. Parl. No. 181. 2857 Col. Barrow..is now before Clough water castle, and hath by a fiery float burnt their boats or cotts, and with slugges burnt their corn.]
1766 G. Cockings Conquest Canada iii. ii. 34 Here's a whole fleet of fire ships, and fire floats, Coming round the point.
1832 W. D. Williamson Hist. Maine I. xxiii. 633 The enemy now constructed a fire-float, 18 or 20 feet square, and filling it with combustibles, and setting them on fire, towed it as far as was safe, directly towards the sloops.
1846 Daily News 24 June 3/5 The harbour fire-float was immediately unmoored and placed alongside the quay, and a length of hose sufficient to reach the building on fire was attached.
1992 S. Holloway Courage High! vi. 60/1 The fire floats fighting the fire from the river were themselves being scorched by the heat.
fireflood n. a mass of flowing lava.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > ejected volcanic material > [noun] > lava
fire stream1657
lava1760
fireflood1821
coulée1839
fire fountain1852
lava flow1866
1821 J. Baillie Metrical Legends 23 To see the fire-flood in their rear.
1886 A. Werner Time & Times 145 Down the hill-side the fire-floods rushed.
1988 New Yorker 26 Sept. 76/2 Most folks don't know the story of the fireflood sequence. When it happens in the next canyon, they say, ‘Thank God.’
† fire-flyer n. Obsolete rare a type of firework, either for military purposes or for display.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > firework > [noun] > types of
fire sword1482
firedrake1608
fiend1634
fire club1634
fire lance1634
fire-target1634
saucisson1634
fire-trunk1639
runner1647
fire pole1708
fire fountain1729
fire-flyer1740
line-rocket1740
devil1742
fire tree1749
Grecian fire1774
jet1774
fire pan1799
metamorphose1818
Saxon1839
lightning paper1866
asteroid1875
brilliant1875
pearl1884
1740 G. Smith tr. Laboratory (ed. 2) App. p. liv (heading) Charges for Fire-flyers and Wheels.
fire folk n. (a) firefighters collectively; also in plural in same sense; †(b) (poetic) the stars (obsolete rare); (c) (in folklore) a class of supernatural beings associated with fire.
ΚΠ
1837 Satirist 8 Oct. 743/2 The fire-folks, engines and all, will have a sinecure, and insurances soon be a needless ceremony.
1877 G. M. Hopkins Starlight Night in Let. 3 Mar. in Corr. (2013) I. 263 O look at all the fire-folk sitting in the air!
1911 Lippincott's Monthly Mag. Oct. ii. iii. 472 ‘Feed the fire-folk! Feed the fire-folk!’.., the old man hastened and tossed bundle after bundle of some fragrant prepared wood upon the fire, which shivered into a myriad iridescent sparkles.
1918 Lowell (Mass.) Sun 1 Nov. 17 (advt.) Risking life and limb in guardianship of the lives and property of others, America's ‘Smoke Eaters’ (thus it is our fire-folk term themselves) and all that is theirs are continually put to the test.
2014 J. M. Harris Gospel of Loki iv. iii. 272 Ironwood was no place for them now, not with Fenris running wild and my army of Firefolk and half-blood demons so close by.
2015 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 5 July (Late ed.) 10 I've heard and read more than once..‘fire folks’ instead of ‘firefighters’ and ‘military folks’ instead of ‘soldiers.’
fire-free adj. (a) safe from fire, fireproof; (b) free from fire, without fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > quality of being incombustible > [adjective] > fire-proof
fire-free1606
fireproof1610
flame-proof1886
flame-proofed1962
1606 E. Scott Exact Disc. East Indians sig. C4v Of late the Sabyndar had receiued an exceeding great losse by fire, whose house all men thought to be fier free: but they were deceiued.
1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine ii. v. 122 So..fire-free they could not be burned.
1935 Jrnl. Ecol. 23 242 The study of the development of dense thorn and other scrub upon the over-grazed, fire-free grass-veld in South and East Africa is of great importance.
2013 J. L. Vankat Vegetation Dynamics on Mountains & Plateaus Amer. S.W. iv. 201 Longer fire-free periods are necessary for regeneration of species that require more time to develop fire-resistant bark, such as white fir.
2014 C. Soles Fire Smart Home Handbk. ii. 37 The immediate 3 to 5 feet surrounding your home (Zone 1A or the Fire-Free Five) are the most critical.
fire front n. the leading edge of a wildfire, typically a continuous line of flames.
ΚΠ
1889 J. McGovern Daniel Trentworthy xxxi. 249 There is a ragged fire-front of about fifty feet.
1959 Independent Star-News (Pasadena, Calif.) 18 Oct. 1/5 [Firemen] returned..after a tour of the entire fire front.
2012 J. E. Keeley et al. Fire in Mediterranean Ecosyst. ii. 54 Firebrands may be carried more than a kilometer away from the fire front and ignite new fires.
fire gang n. a gang of arsonists.
ΚΠ
1891 Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper 5 Apr. 2/2 His ‘system’, as the Fire gang designate it, was ‘so simple, and so crude, that it was good luck, and that alone, that pulled him through’.
1934 Times 12 Jan. 9/6 Mr. and Mrs. Capsoni had exposed the activities of the ‘fire gang’.
2013 Pioneer (India) (Nexis) 20 Dec. There was one notorious ‘Fire Gang’ that had let loose a reign of terror in South Delhi areas. The gang used to set the house on fire after committing burglaries.
fire gilding n. gilding in which a gold amalgam is applied to metal, and the mercury then evaporated off with a gentle heat.The amalgam is made by adding red-hot gold to heated mercury and stirring. It is applied when it has cooled to room temperature.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > gilding and silvering > [noun] > gilding > methods of
parcel-gilding1519
water gilding1703
leaf gilding1746
matting1758
fire gilding1831
mercury gilding1870
pink gilding1873
honey gilding1954
1831 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal I. 295 Persons employed in fire-gilding.
1916 Bull. Metrop. Mus. Art 11 20/2 The gilding of the armor..was showy and crude; for the gold, instead of being attached to the underlying metal by fire gilding..was merely laid on in sheets and hammered in place.
2014 A. Mason Rasa Shastra App. 486 This area partly contributed mercury to be used in the fire gilding of the Daibutsu in Nara.
fire-gilt adj. gilded by fire gilding; also figurative.
ΚΠ
1753 Public Advertiser 10 Apr. Heads adorned with wrought Bronzes, Fire-gilt, after the Corinthian Order.
1839 S. Gray Young Country Widow ii. v, in Spaniard 219 Phaeton's fire-gilt vis-a-vis, I'll set all on a blaze!
1926 F. Tupper Types of Soc. in Medieval Lit. i. 12 Chaucer's attribution of a fire-gilt tale of his own to one Corinne and his citation of an unknown Lollius instead of Boccaccio as the source of Troilus will be remembered.
2013 Richmond (Va.) Times Disp. (Nexis) 10 Nov. g6 The clocks are made of fire-gilt bronze.
† fire-gown n. Obsolete rare a woman's nightgown designed to be worn outside in the event of a fire or other emergency; cf. earthquake-gown n. at earthquake n. Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > loose clothing > robe or gown > types of > dressing gown > other
night-rail1552
peignoir1835
shawl dressing-gown1837
roundabout1856
negligée1862
fire-gown1870
bath-robe1902
bath-gown1909
1870 A. D. T. Whitney We Girls xii. 198 Mrs. Hobart has a ‘fire-gown’... She made it for a fire, or for illness, or any night alarm.
† fire grappling n. Obsolete a grappling iron with which to stop or tow away fireships (fireship n. 1).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > naval weapons and equipment > [noun] > devices to ward off fireships
fire grappling1749
fire boom1750
1749 D. Dent Def. to Complaint Rear-Admiral Knowles 6 The Fire-grapplings and Fire-engines, and Buckets of the Squadron, should be put on board my Ship, in order to preserve her from the Effects of the Enemy's Fireships.
1832 H. Douglas Ess. Mil. Bridges (ed. 2) iii. 89 Light boats were constantly kept in readiness, with fire-grapplings, to meet and anchor anything that might be drifted down the stream.
1897 Pall Mall Mag. Jan. 99 Four gunboats and numerous guard and piquet boats with fire grapplings plied in the river above.
fire ground n. originally and chiefly U.S. the scene of a fire, esp. the area in which fire and emergency services are operating.
ΚΠ
1856 Digest Acts of Assembly Philadelphia 179 It shall be the duty of the superior officer of the police present, to..form a cordon round the fire ground.
1911 Syracuse (N.Y.) Herald 8 Sept. 16/1 Chief Kantz, who was the first to arrive upon the fire ground,..ran up the stairs, which were charged with heavy black smoke and heat.
1992 F. L. Brannigan Building Constr. for Fire Service (ed. 3) i. 3 A ‘May Day’ should trigger immediate silence on the radio so that fire command can communicate with the caller in distress, without interference from others at the fire ground.
2015 J. S. Angle et al. Firefighting Strategies & Tactics ii. 25 Not surprisingly..just less than half of fire fighter injuries occur on the fire ground.
fire hall n. North American a fire station.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > fire-brigade > headquarters of fire-brigade
fire station1819
station1833
fire hall1866
firehouse1869
fire command1941
1866 Savannah (Georgia) Daily Herald 10 Feb. A communication was received from the Washington Fire Company, stating that at an election held at Washington Fire Hall on Friday, January 26, 1866, the following gentlemen were duly elected.
1881 A. Begg Great Canad. North West 103 A handsome fire hall centrally located.
1966 Whig-Standard (Kingston, Ont.) 26 Jan. 6/3 Council decided to increase the insurance on the fire hall.
2006 Men's Health Dec. 104/2 A week after Jed's wife was killed, the entire department met in the fire hall.
fire hat n. U.S. a helmet for a firefighter; cf. fireman's helmet n. (a) at fireman n. Compounds 2b.
ΚΠ
1800 Charter City of Albany & Laws & Ordinances 101 Every Foreman, Assistant and Fireman shall, at fires, or the cleaning of their engines, wear a fire-hat, the crown of which shall be painted white.
1851 C. Cist Sketches & Statistics Cincinnati 213 George E. Minister..makes..fire hats.
1999 Better Nutrition Mar. 10/2 Patch wore a fire hat and a red rubber nose to visit his patients.
fire-holder n. a container in which to light or carry a fire; esp. a holder in which to carry safely a lit fuse or match (cf. portfire n.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > portable receptacle for burning fuel
fire paneOE
heartheOE
fire vessela1382
chafer1395
chimneyc1420
chafing-dish1483
coal pan1530
fire chauffer1558
brazeraine1623
brasero1652
brazier1690
firecage1770
fire-holder1789
fire basket1798
mangal1814
komfoor1841
rodney1848
Jack1849
chip pan1854
reredos1859
hibachi1863
scaldino1866
chafing-pan1867
salamander1873
1789 A. Brook Misc. Exper. Electr., Air-pump & Barometer v. 192 The coals are kindled in the caldron, or fire-holder.
1872 H. W. Taunt Map of Thames 49/1 A frying-pan, pot, and kettle, all to fit a fireholder.
1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. (1884) 45 The light for igniting the matches was carried by a slow-burning fuse contained in a metal case... These fire-holders were usually attached to the girdle.
1904 Birds & Nature Feb. 95/2 In the woody species [of Polyporaceae]..the Fourth of July urchin [finds] a fire-holder to light his pyrotechnics.
1934 E. Kiyooka tr. Y. Fukuzawa Autobiogr. xiv. 302 I was buying a charcoal fire holder..at a hardware store near Kaji-bashi.
2010 J. Rose Zoroastrianism i. 6 She did not perform the morning incense ritual until one of her aunts gave her a small fire-holder.
firehole n. (a) a furnace; the part of a furnace or boiler in which the fire is lit; (b) (in the context of sea expeditions in freezing conditions) a hole made through ice, for obtaining water in the event of a fire.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > furnace or kiln > furnace > [noun]
oveneOE
furnacea1225
chimney1340
fire-stock1440
firework1606
fire room1657
firehole1682
poil1756
smut1819
blast-pot1887
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > sources of water
firehole1682
firecock1707
fireplug1709
fire cask1800
firewater1916
1682 G. Hartman True Preserver & Restorer of Health Explic. Pts. Engine sig. A*7v The Door of the Firehole sliding up and down.
1707 I. Newton Corr. (1967) IV. 502 A Melting house to be provided with two fire holes for two iron melting potts.
1823 P. Nicholson New Pract. Builder 362 The fire-hole, or furnace.
1824 G. F. Lyon Private Jrnl. iii. 90 We had for some time observed that, in the fire-hole, which was kept open in the ice alongside, a countless multitude of small shrimps were constantly rising near the surface.
1910 W. G. Worcester Manuf. Roofing Tiles ix. 394 The fuel fills the fire-hole completely, drawing its supply of air through the spaces between the arches.
1997 T. H. Baughman Pilgrims on Ice viii. 140 Clearly, with fire raging in the ship, twenty minutes was too long. Still, Scott opted not to keep a fire hole open in the ice near the ship.
2000 P. W. B. Semmens & A. J. Goldfinch How Steam Locomotives really Work ii. 30 (caption) A simulated fire can be seen burning inside the firehole.
fire-hollow v. rare transitive to hollow out by burning.
ΚΠ
1864 Ld. Tennyson Enoch Arden in Enoch Arden, etc. 31 Enoch's comrade..Fire-hollowing this [fallen stem] in Indian fashion, fell Sun-stricken.
2010 J. Bennett Dream Hikes Coast to Coast 36 Fire-hollowed by natural fires over hundreds of years, it did not finally succumb until ravaged by a careless campfire 60 years ago.
fire-hollowed adj. hollowed out by burning.
ΚΠ
1852 N. Brit. Rev. Aug. 463 Trusting himself to the waves in a fire-hollowed canoe, which he has wrought out of the primeval oaks of the forest.
1883 Overland Monthly & Out West Mag. Apr. 415/2 Bartmore..kicked the grate so as to jar the fire-hollowed embers into closer contact.
2009 J. Smith 50 Hikes in Sierra Nevada vi. 245 He built a summer cabin out of a fallen, fire-hollowed giant sequoia.
fire-hoop n. now historical and rare a hoop made of brushwood or other flammable material, steeped in a flammable substance such as tar and set alight and thrown or rolled toward the enemy as an incendiary. [Compare Dutch vuurhoep (1567 in Junius; compare quot. 1585).]
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > naval weapons and equipment > [noun] > incendiary weapons or materials
fire pike1483
fire-hoop1585
fire-wreath1639
fire-crancel1667
fire chemise1728
fire-bavin1779
blanket1816
1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 279 Malleoli..fire hoopes.
1678 tr. L. de Gaya Treat. Arms of War ii. iii. 65 Fire-hoops are very proper for the defence of a Breach, by rolling them down upon the Enemies when they mount the Assault.
1729 G. Shelvocke, Jr. tr. K. Siemienowicz Great Art Artillery iv. 248 Garlands, Crowns, Darts, Fire-Hoops, and the rest of your Pyrobolical Machines.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Fire-hoops.
1993 B. A. Watson Sieges iii. 46 Francisco Balbi thought the firehoops created the most havoc among the Janissaries because their loose, flowing robes were easily ignited.
fire hydrant n. chiefly North American an upright water pipe, especially one in a street, with a nozzle to which a fire hose can be attached; = hydrant n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > conveyor > [noun] > conduit, channel, or tube > pipe > for water > apparatus for drawing water from mains
standardc1475
pant1586
standcock1745
standpipe1763
fire main1826
hydrant1828
fire hydrant1838
1838 J. T. Blois Gazetteer State Mich. iii. 272 One hundred fire hydrants are connected with the works.
1934 Jrnl. Amer. Water Wks. Assoc. 26 834 The fire hydrant is the vital link between the fire apparatus and the water in the mains.
1992 Out Summer 61/1 Arresting a man for jerking off in a porno theater is a little like shooting a dog for pissing on a fire hydrant.
2012 Capricorn Coast (Queensland) Mirror (Nexis) 29 Feb. 4 The project involved installing 21 fire hydrants to protect the township from wildfires and house fires.
fire insurance n. insurance against losses by fire.In quot. 1721: a company that provides fire insurance; cf. fire company n. (a).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > insurance > [noun] > other types of insurance
reassurance1702
reinsurance1705
fire insurance1721
marine insurance1787
credit insurance1818
self-insurance1829
guarantee fund1848
industrial assurance1850
industrial insurance1853
fidelity guarantee1880
title insurance1882
open cover1884
rain check1884
co-insurance1889
franchise1895
health insurance1901
casualty insurance1902
travel insurance1912
fidelity insurance1930
medigap1966
fidelity bond1970
1721 London Jrnl. 23 Sept. 4/1 The Directors of the London Fire Insurance having given Notice that 1 per Cent. is to be paid in by the 13th of October.
1774 S. Watson Gentleman's & Citizen's Almanack 92 The Hibernian Fire Insurance Company is composed of a Number of Subscribers.
1790 G. G. Stonestreet Refl. Frequency of Fires in Metropolis 4 Fire insurance..is an establishment of a later period (scarce any traces of it being found, in this country, before the present century).
1858 Ld. St. Leonards Handy Bk. Prop. Law vii. 45 A word of advice about your Fire Insurance.
1937 Washington Post 12 Sept. v. 13/8 These figures assume that the fire insurance policy is for $5,000, and the home contents policy for $2,500.
2007 Kiplinger's Personal Finance Feb. 94/2 Before tenants move in, you'll need to buy fire insurance that covers the structure and contents of the rental property.
fire-junk n. [ < fire n. + junk n.3] now historical and rare a junk used as a fireship (fireship n. 1).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > war vessel > [noun] > fireship
fire vessela1382
palander1524
fire boata1615
fireship1626
mine shipc1643
machine-vessel1694
fire raft1759
catamaran1804
fire-coffer1804
fire-junk1822
volcano-ship1860
1822 Asiatic Jrnl. & Monthly Reg. Feb. 112 Seven fire-junks also came down against the fleet, but they were discovered and avoided.
1884 Christian World 28 Aug. 641/3 The burning gunboats and fire-junks.
2013 Cheng Wei-Chung War, Trade & Piracy in China Seas v. 88 He let the Dutch fleet sail into Amoy Bay and then sealed its mouth with suicidal fire-junks.
fire king n. (a) fire personified as a king (now historical and rare); (b) a famous or celebrated fire-eater (fire-eater n. 1).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [noun]
bruneOE
fireOE
eldc1200
glimmer1567
Vulcan1595
fire king1796
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > legerdemain, etc. > [noun] > juggler or conjurer > types of
knife-warper?c1225
saccularian1652
fire-eater1676
fire king1796
juggler1807
stone-eater1820
sword-swallower1826
fire-swallower1857
salamander1859
jadoo-wallah1890
knife-thrower1905
gully-gully man1930
1796 M. G. Lewis Monk III. viii. 15 ‘The Fire-King’ seems to be a man all formed of flames: he raises the meteors and wandering lights, which beguile travellers into ponds and marshes.
1829 T. Carlyle in Edinb. Rev. June 442 The Birmingham Fire-king has visited the fabulous East.
1861 Leisure Hour 17 Oct. 661 Thus aided [by the wind], the fire-king marched victoriously from east to west.
1876 Chambers's Jrnl. 11 Nov. 733 The fire-king devoured flaming brimstone by way of dessert.
1909 Forest & Stream 8 May 730/3 For days in September and October, during the reign of the fire king, the air was dense with smoke.
1962 M. Bergerie They Tasted Bayou Water vi. 90 The circus came to town... One of its attractions was the Fire King, who ate fire.
1992 M. H. Hazen & R. M. Hazen Keepers of Flame ii. 42 Other stunts performed by the ‘Fire King’ included..eating a torch ‘as if it were a salad.’
fire ladder n. a portable ladder used for escape from or access to the upper floors of a burning building.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [noun] > means of escape > from a fire
fire ladder1648
fire escape1725
escape1810
1648 H. Hexham Groot Woorden-boeck Een brandt-leeder, a fire-ladder with a hooke.
1669 W. Aglionby Present State United Provinces iii. vii. 255 Every year in April the Magistrates go through all the Town, and every one must set forth before his door his Fire-Ladder, Buckets, and Sayl, to the end that if Fire should happen any where, it might be readily extinguish'd.
1832 Examiner 28 Oct. 700/1 It was 20 minutes..before the fire-ladders were brought.
2007 Cincinnati Jan. 138/2 Do I really need that collapsible fire ladder my grandmother made me buy?
† fire lamp n. Mining Obsolete an iron basket of burning coals used to create a current of air or provide illumination in a mine; = fire pan n. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > mining equipment > [noun] > lamp
pitman candle1658
fire lamp1769
steel mill1772
safe lamp1815
safe lantern1815
safety lamp1815
safety lantern1815
safe light1816
Davy1817
lamp1839
Geordie1844
pit lamp1860
flame-lamp1888
1769 W. Sharp Treat. Coal-mines 96 The coal fire furnace, called in the north the fire lamp, has been found of eminent use in many pits.
1910 W. Roxburgh Gen. Foundry Pract. 274 Fuel in foundry work consists principally of coke for the..gas producers, chaffer or fire-lamps, and hot air dryers.
fire lance n. a type of firework, typically having a long stick with burning material or exploding gunpowder at one end, and used either for military purposes or for display; cf. fire pike n.2 [Compare French lance à feu kind of weapon (15th cent. in Middle French), kind of ornamental firework (1680) and lance de feu kind of firearm (1660 or earlier; c1447 in Middle French with reference to a celestial phenomenon).]
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > firework > [noun] > types of
fire sword1482
firedrake1608
fiend1634
fire club1634
fire lance1634
fire-target1634
saucisson1634
fire-trunk1639
runner1647
fire pole1708
fire fountain1729
fire-flyer1740
line-rocket1740
devil1742
fire tree1749
Grecian fire1774
jet1774
fire pan1799
metamorphose1818
Saxon1839
lightning paper1866
asteroid1875
brilliant1875
pearl1884
1634 J. Bate Myst. Nature & Art ii. 89 The description and making of three sorts of Fire-lances.
1790 in W. Nicholson tr. A. Benyowsky Mem. & Trav. (new ed.) II. 216 I was particularly busied in making fire balls, rockets, fuzees, and fire lances, in order to prevent the enemy from harassing us.
1992 Chinese Lit. 14 131 A mid-10th century silk painting from Tunhuang that accurately depicts a fire-lance.
2010 New Scientist (Nexis) 25 Dec. A couple of years ago they tried their hand at fire lances, a kind of medieval flame-thrower.
fire lane n. originally and chiefly U.S. (a) a strip of land cleared of flammable material, intended to act as a fire break; (also) a permanent road providing firefighters with access to remote areas of forest, grassland, etc.; a fire road; (b) a marked area or lane on a road in which parking is prohibited, so as to allow access by fire and emergency vehicles.With sense (a) cf. note at fire road n.
ΚΠ
1891 Amer. Meteorol. Jrnl. May 40 The National Park..was saved from destruction by brush fires only by the prompt remedy of open fire lanes through the woods.
1900 Science 28 Dec. 982/2 His most important suggestion is with regard to the multiplication of fire lanes, which experience has shown to be a successful barrier to ordinary fires.
1922 Atchison (Kansas) Daily Globe 16 Oct. 5/4 Waverley way and adjacent streets were blocked with lines of fire hose.., and street cars were unable to cross the hose that lined the tracks at each end of the fire lane.
1939 Manitowoc (Wisconsin) Herald-Times 7 Feb. 8/4 The conservation department had ruled that fire lanes would be closed except to fire fighters.
1971 Alamagordo (New Mexico) Daily News 12 May 5/2 A rope-like explosive device that can blast a fire lane over rough terrain in the face of an approaching forest fire has been developed.
2007 R. Burke Fire Protection Syst. & Response ii. 45 (caption) Fire lane curb has been painted red indicating that no parking is allowed..to protect building access for the fire department apparatus.
2007 J. DuFresne Backpacking in Mich. (2010) 97 The main loop..weaves its way through the gently rolling terrain, forested in hardwoods and pines..before emerging at another fire lane.
† fire-leam n. [ < fire n. + leam n.1] Obsolete rare a fiery gleam or glare; fiery light.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > [noun] > light from a fire
firelightOE
fire-leamOE
flame-light1611
fireshine?1614
OE Christ & Satan 127 Fyrleoma stod geond þæt atole scræf.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. ccxxiiii. f. cxlvv Many grisly & vncouthe syghtes were this yere seen in Englonde as Hostis of men fyghtyng in the Skye, & fyre lemys.
fire-lighting n. (a) the action or fact of lighting a fire (frequently attributive); †(b) (chiefly North American) hunting by night in which the light from burning wood is used to illuminate the eyes of the game; a hunt conducted in this way; = fire hunting n. 2 (obsolete rare).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > [noun] > going or setting on fire > setting on fire or alight > making or kindling of fire
firemakingc1405
beeting1517
fire kindling1658
fire-lighting1825
the world > food and drink > hunting > [noun] > hunting with lights
fire-lighting1848
jack-hunting1857
fire shooting1860
fire hunting1885
jacklighting1895
pit-lamping1924
spotlighting1926
pitlighting1969
lamping1984
1825 T. C. Grattan High-ways & By-ways 2nd Ser. II. iii. 40 A preparation for fire-lighting filled the hearth, in the shape of two small pieces of wood with some shavings.
1848 Daily National Intelligencer (Washington) 22 May In killing wild animals he pursues but two methods, called ‘fire-lighting’ and ‘still hunting’.
1857 W. Jones How to make Home Happy 241 Light your fire on the top by means of paper, wood, and coke..or any prepared fire-lighting material.
1961 D. Stuart Driven 143 As he watched the dexterous unharnessing and hobbling, the fire-lighting, the billy-boiling, he smiled.
2009 J. Struthers Red Sky at Night 76 If you aren't confident about your fire-lighting skills, or the kindling is slightly damp, you might need some dry newspaper as well.
fire line n. (a) the (leading) edge of a wildfire; cf. fire front n.; (b) a section of cleared land, or a naturally occurring barrier, that helps prevent the spread of fire; = firebreak n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > reclamation > [noun] > clearing land > for specific purpose
firebreak1820
fire line1853
fireguard1874
fire trace1891
1853 Missionary Reg. Jan. 42/1 Feeling cold from the cutting wind, I kept myself as close as possible to the fire-line for about a quarter of an hour, when daylight appeared.
1902 A. C. Laut Story of Trapper 147 The game..must be moving away from the fire line.
1905 Terms Forestry & Logging (Bull. U.S. Dept. Agric., Bureau Forestry, No. 61) 10 Fire line, a strip kept clear of inflammable material as a protection against the spread of forest fire.
2001 E. A. Johnson & K. Miyanishi Forest Fires (verso title page) (caption) Tornadic fire whirls were observed immediately in front of this advancing fire line.
2004 Z. Unger Working Fire xiv. 215 Once a fire is completely encircled by a fire line, it is 100 percent contained.
† fire-link n. [ < fire n. + link n.3] Obsolete a flaming torch, a flambeau.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > torch or brand
fire stickc1300
firebrandc1330
fire-blazea1500
firing?c1500
stick of firec1510
lunt1550
tede1562
fire-link1579
fire cane1644
brand1810
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > a fire > [noun] > fire-brand
brandc950
fire stickc1300
firebrandc1330
stick of firec1510
fire-link1579
fire cane1644
1579 T. North tr. D. Acciaiuoli in tr. Plutarch Liues 1140 He commanded his souldiers to bring forth two thowsand oxen..then tying torches or fire linckes vnto their hornes, he appointed the nimblest men he had to light them.
1601 W. Cornwallis Ess. II. xxxix. sig. Bb7v His deluding the Romaine armie with Oxen carrying fire-linckes on their heads, whose strangenesse in the night astonished his enemies, & made waye for him to escape.
1640 J. Gower tr. Ovid Festivalls iv. 92 Foxes in the rails Run loose with fire-links at their backs and tails.
fire loss n. loss or damage sustained in a fire; (also) an insurance claim or settlement for such loss or damage; payments made on such claims, considered collectively.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > loss > [noun] > loss by fire
fire loss1828
1828 Fayetteville (N. Carolina) Observer 24 May (heading) Fire Losses paid the last year.
1891 Daily News 30 Nov. 5/4 A professional fire-loss assessor.
1916 W. B. Munro Princ. & Methods Munic. Admin. viii. 320 No municipality can hope to secure any great reduction in its annual fire loss merely by motorizing its fire apparatus.
1988 Orange Coast May 52 The average residential fire loss was $4,200.
2003 M. Tebeau Eating Smoke 4 Fire loss began to level off about 1920.
† fire lute n. Obsolete a clay or cement lute (lute n.2 1) capable of resisting great heat.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > cement or mortar > [noun] > for stopping joints or cracks
lutec1400
luting1527
lutation1617
grout1638
lutum1719
fire lute1758
mortar-liquid1776
grouting1793
1758 R. Dossie Elaboratory laid open Introd. 51 The fire-lute.
1812 Belfast Monthly Mag. 8 302/1 For fire-lute, Mr. Watt directs the use of porcelain clay from Cornwall.
1911 E. L. Rhead & A. H. Sexton Assaying & Metall. Anal. (ed. 2) 172 A good fire lute consists of 1 part fire clay, 3 parts sand, and a little hair or horse-dung moistened with borax water.
fire main n. a pipeline providing a mains water supply to fire hydrants.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > conveyor > [noun] > conduit, channel, or tube > pipe > for water > apparatus for drawing water from mains
standardc1475
pant1586
standcock1745
standpipe1763
fire main1826
hydrant1828
fire hydrant1838
1826 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Apr. 468/1 A circumstance which accounts now for (but does not justify) the emptiness of the fire ‘mains’ in the neighbourhood of the Strand, so much complained of at several of the late conflagrations.
1949 Our Industry (Anglo-Iranian Oil Co.) (ed. 2) iv. 148 Fire mains are run around all the units, the tank farm, etc., and in the more hazardous areas these are reinforced by permanent foam solution lines.
2007 A. Furness & M. Muckett Introd. Fire Safety Managem. ix. 233 The outlets from the fire mains should be located within the protected fire fighting shaft.
fire maker n. a person who makes fire or lights a fire; also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > [noun] > going or setting on fire > setting on fire or alight > making or kindling of fire > one who
fire makera1382
kindler?a1439
fire-kindler1563
firelighter1770
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1963) 1 Kings viii. 13 Oynyment-makeres & firmakeris [a1425 Corpus Oxf. fier makers; L. focarias] & cloþmakeris.
1606 R. Knolles tr. J. Bodin Six Bks. Common-weale iv. vii. 540 If the law of Solon might take place, these fire makers durst not sow debate and discord among the citisens.
1710 S. Palmer Moral Ess. Prov. 61 Even from the fire-makers and necessary-women, to the groom of the stole.
1865 E. B. Tylor Res. Early Hist. Mankind ix. 228 The wide-spread legends of first fire-makers.
1968 B. Reynolds Kariba Stud. iv. 188 The fire maker begins with his hands at the top of the stick.
2011 D. Gist Love on Line 187 The fire maker sighed, flames filling the room with light.
fire marble n. a variety of marble containing fossilized shell fragments showing coloured reflections; = lumachella n. [Compare German Feuermarmor (1744 or earlier).]
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > rock > sedimentary rock > [noun] > limestone > lumachella
lumachella1784
fire marble1786
1786 Catal. Portland Mus. (Skinner & Co.) 184 A snuffbox, formed of beautiful specimens of the Fire Marble.
1850 J. D. Dana Syst. Mineral. (ed. 3) 208 Fire marble or lumachelle is a dark brown shell marble.
1966 R. Webster Pract. Gemmol. (ed. 4) xxi. 197 Lumachella (Fire Marble) is a shell-marble, from which a fire-like chatoyancy is emitted when the polished plate is turned in different directions.
2009 M. Drabble Pattern in Carpet 307 The museum also houses..precious and semi-precious stones used by the workshop's craftsmen: jaspers, chalcedony, fire-marble with fossil shells, [etc.].
fire mark n. †(a) a birthmark (obsolete); (b) (usually hyphenated) a mark left by a branding iron; also figurative (now rare); (c) a (metal) plaque or sign fixed on the front of a building indicating the insurance company providing the fire insurance and emergency fire service for that building (now historical).With sense (c) cf. note at fire company n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > marking > marking to identify > [noun] > a brand
stigmec1475
fire marka1525
brand1552
burn1563
firebrand1570
flesh-brand1646
brand-mark1656
stigmatism1664
burn-mark1675
fleur-de-lis1790
a1525 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1923) I. 240 King James the secund that had the fyre mark in his face.
1690 London Gaz. No. 2571/4 Lost..a brown Gelding..a Flower-de-luce Fire mark on the near Hip.
1757 M. Postlethwayt Britain's Commerc. Interest II. xx. 90 Merchants and others shall be obliged, on pain of 20 livres penalty, to deposit the image or impression of the said fire-mark which they use.
1839 London Disp. 6 Jan. 962/2 If the insurance-offices won't pay for the fire-mark well, friends—it is my opinion the government will.
1859 Punch 37 p. iv At your peril neglect this, and I will brand your Congress in such sort that no lapse of Ages shall wear out my fire-mark.
1883 Commercial Gaz. (Cincinnati, Ohio) 22 Jan. 8/5 The hand of the dead woman was rubbed upon Miss Ella's face. At once the ‘fire mark’ disappeared.
1951 Rotarian Mar. 60/1 When a company insured a property, it usually did not consider the policy in effect until its fire mark was placed upon the building.
1965 J. F. Faupel Afr. Holocaust (rev. ed.) v. 67 We call those people Balindi..because they..bear the scars, or fire-marks, after the manner of the Banyoro.
2011 B. Hensler Crucible of Fire iv. 103 Each insurance company had its own distinctive fire mark.
† fire-mark v. Obsolete rare transitive to mark with a branding iron.
ΚΠ
1705 London Gaz. No. 4114/4 A brown Mare..fire-marked I.I. in the near Buttock.
firemarked adj. marked by fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > animal keeping practices general > [adjective] > branded or marked
firemarked1853
pen-branded1881
the mind > attention and judgement > lack of beauty > disfigurement > [adjective] > blemished > blemished by fire
fire-pitted1760
fire-scathed1780
fire-seamed1815
fire-scarred1824
firemarked1853
1853 J. Sinnett tr. A. W. von Rochau Wanderings through Cities of Italy II. xiv. 169 They are simply naked fire-marked walls [Ger. Brandmauern].
1885 Pop. Sci. Monthly Jan. 111 What does it matter whether you call the animal that fashioned these exceedingly rough and fire-marked implements a man-like ape or an ape-like human being?
1994 Iraq 56 72 Stone walls, ovens, fireplaces and firemarked stones.
fire marshal n. chiefly North American (a) the administrative head of a fire department; (b) an official charged with enforcing fire regulations or investigating fires, a fire safety officer.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > fire-brigade > chief of fire-brigade
firemaster1702
water engineer1711
fireward1714
fire warden1724
fire chief1847
fire marshal1854
1854 N.Y. Daily Times 15 May 4/3 When the Legislature gives to the City authority to appoint a Fire Marshal, we have no doubt he will prove a valuable public officer.
1894 W. T. Stead If Christ came to Chicago 295 Fire-Marshal Swenie has remained in command of the firemen for many years.
1903 Daily Chron. 31 Dec. 5/5 The fire marshal himself went up to the balcony.
1993 Classical Music Mag. (Mississauga, Ont.) Feb. 15/2 After three performances the city fire marshal informed us that either we'd have to limit the size of our audiences or move to larger quarters.
fire measure n. (a) = pyrometer n. 2 (now rare); (b) a measure taken to reduce the potential damage or danger in the event of a fire, or to minimize the risk of a fire starting; chiefly in plural.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > measurement of temperature > [noun] > instrument > for very high temperatures
pyrometer1791
fire measure1829
resistance pyrometer1868
optical pyrometer1901
1829 N. Arnott Elements Physics (ed. 4) II. 111 The apparatus has been called Wedgewood's Pyrometer, or fire-measure.
1902 C. H. Henderson & J. F. Woodhull Elem. Physics xix. 162 Pyrometers (fire measures)..depend for their action upon the expansion of air.
1904 Evening News Rev. (Ohio) 14 Jan. 1/2 He will also insist on some improved fire measures in the near future.
2015 PNG Post-Courier (Austral.) (Nexis) 16 June 4 Inspectors will provide a brief for the senior management so that there are no uncertainties that fire measures are in place.
fire mixture n. a mixture of substances designed to burn or explode, such as Greek fire (Greek fire n. at Greek adj. Compounds), etc.; cf. sense A. 10a(a).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > [noun]
tindera700
foodOE
eletc1200
firec1300
fuela1398
eldinga1400
firingc1487
betting1521
pabulum1675
fire block1834
fire mixture1855
alternative fuel1906
1855 J. Hewitt Anc. Armour I. 90 The terrors of these early fire-mixtures were enhanced by the belief that..the flames kindled by them, were inextinguishable by water.
1900 Proc. Amer. Pharmaceut. Assoc. 540 In preparing torches [ie. fireworks], the cylinder is first filled..with white bole, then a few grains of gun powder..followed by the desired fire mixture.
1999 R. A. Donkin Dragon's Brain Perfume v. 160 Indian knowledge of ‘fire mixtures’ is undoubtedly ancient.
† fire money n. Obsolete a payment made to a school for the purchase of fuel for fires.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > [noun] > for heating, lighting, or power
fire money1721
standby1900
1721 in J. A. Picton City of Liverpool: Select. Munic. Rec. (1886) II. 74 All gratuities..such as entrance money, cockpenny, fire money, and quarteridge.
1792 J. Sinclair Statist. Acct. Scotl. II. 157 3 d. in the winter, and 1½d during the summer quarter, from each scholar for fire money.
1869 Schools Inq. Comm. XVII. 352 in Parl. Papers 1867–8 XXVIII. xiv. 1 Ten years ago the school was free, except a charge for fire money.
fire night n. a night spent round a fireside or bonfire, typically as a social event.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > social gathering > [noun] > intimate
fire night1652
sit-down1777
1652 C. Barksdale Noctes Hibernæ To Rdr. sig. A2 Some have learned more of their Teacher, in an houres walk, or on a fire-night, than sitting at the desk all the day.
1654 E. Gayton Pleasant Notes Don Quixot i. vii. 24 A Gentleman importun'd, at a fire-night in the publike Hall, to accept the high and mightie place of a mock-Emperour, which was duely conferred upon him.
1915 N.Y. Times 5 Aug. 11/4 Council Fire Night will be celebrated in the Bronx..and in Richmond there will be a high bonfire on Ward's Hill.
2014 B. Moran Making Marion vii. 68 Valerie had made me promise to come along to Fire Night that Sunday, the last one having been cancelled due to the sudden disappearance of Grace.
fire offering n. a sacrifice offered to a god by burning; = burnt offering n.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrifice or a sacrifice > kinds of sacrifice > [noun] > burnt
holocausta1325
burnt-sacrifice1382
burnt offeringc1384
fire offering1617
1617 H. Ainsworth tr. in Annot. Second Bk. Moses, called Exodus sig. Z4v/1 Thou shalt burn all the ramm, upon the altar; it is a Burnt-offring.., a Fyre-offring unto Iehovah.
1872 J. G. Murphy Crit. Comm. Leviticus (i. 9) A fire-offering; a firing or offering made by fire.
2014 Jerusalem Post (Nexis) 21 Mar. 42 The sons of Aaron..respond to God's fire by bringing their own fire offering, two fire-pans of incense before the Lord.
fire officer n. (a) a member of a firefighting team; (b) a person with responsibility for fire safety.
ΚΠ
1837 Morning Post 15 Sept. 3/2 At that moment the fire officer on duty came that way, and ordered the watchman to go for assistance to the guard-house.
1920 L. Flanagan Sci. in Fire-fighting 101 Every fire officer should have a general knowledge of centrifugal pump construction.
1998 T. McHale Casualty (BBC TV rehearsal script) (O.E.D. Archive) 13th Ser. Episode 2. 27 Fire Officer. Get a ladder up to her. That roof could go at any minute.
2014 Tamworth Herald (Nexis) 6 Mar. 2 Tamworth Borough Council will be fitting sprinkler systems in our six high rise flats. The reasoning behind this followed discussions with our fire officer.
fire opal n. [ < fire n. + opal n., after German Feueropal (M. H. Klaproth 1807, or earlier)] a variety of opal showing flame-coloured internal reflections; (also) a stone of this.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > opal > [noun] > varieties of
girasol1588
oculus mundi1661
eye of the world1730
hydrophane1784
cacholong1791
pitchstone1794
pyrophane1794
semi-opal1794
fire opal1811
sun opal1818
isopyre1827
alumocalcite1832
jasper-opal1843
opal jasper1848
resin opal1850
pitch opal1861
jasp-opal1868
opal-agate1868
harlequin1873
harlequin opal1887
wax-opal1896
potch1897
pinfire1902
moss opal1904
nobby1919
the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > silicates > tectosilicate > [noun] > quartz > amorphous quartz or opal > others
girasol1588
oculus mundi1661
hydrophane1784
cacholong1791
pitchstone1794
pyrophane1794
semi-opal1794
wood-stone1794
fire opal1811
wood-opal1816
sun opal1818
isopyre1827
jasper-opal1843
opal jasper1848
resin opal1850
natural glass1853
pitch opal1861
vitrite1866
jasp-opal1868
opal-agate1868
pearl opal1872
harlequin1873
harlequin opal1887
wax-opal1896
potch1897
moss opal1904
nobby1919
1811 J. Black tr. A. von Humboldt Polit. Ess. New Spain III. xi. 132 A new species of opal of the rarest beauty,..M. M. Karsten and Klaproth have described under the name of fire opal [Fr. sous le nom de Feuer-Opal].
1936 S. Sassoon Sherston's Progress iv. ii. 258 I didn't touch wood, but as tomorrow was the thirteenth I produced my fire-opal and touched that.
2007 N.Y. Mag. 8 Jan. 61/2 For shoppers in search of one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces—say, a lariat made with fire opal.
fire ordeal n. now chiefly historical a test of guilt or innocence in which a person is subjected to trial by fire; the practice of administering such tests; cf. sense A. 11, water-ordeal n.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > trying or hearing of cause > [noun] > trial > trial by ordeal > types of
corsneda1000
water-ordeallOE
waterdoom1580
fire ordeal1612
alfet1678
bier-right1828
1612 S. Daniel First Pt. Hist. Eng. i. 65 To purge her selfe of a scandall raised on her with Alwyn, Bishop of Winchester, she vnder-went the triall of Fire-Ordeall (which was to passe blind-fold, with bare feete, ouer certaine plough-shares, made red hot, and laid an vneuen distance one before the other) which she safely performed.
1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks III. Misc. ii. i. 41 That new kind of Fire-Ordeal.
1839 Methodist Mag. Jan. 32 The fire ordeal was for the higher classes of the people, and the water for the lower.
1995 K. Blanchard Anthropol. of Sport (rev. ed.) v. 141 Initiates are painted, tossed into the air, bled, subjected to fire ordeals, circumcised, and subincised. Becoming a man among the Arunta is both an important and painful process.
2007 A. Schmid in B. A. Brower & B. R. Johnston Disappearing Peoples? vi. 117 Blacksmiths also participated..in jurisprudence—conducting the fire ordeal to convict thieves and other culprits.
fire-painted adj. having an unusual colour or glaze effect from a special kind of kiln-firing.
ΚΠ
1901 E. A. Barber Pottery & Porcelain U.S. (ed. 2) xxii. 494 By this process Fire-Painted ware may be produced successfully in all colors and lustres.
2005 D. Rago et al. Arts & Crafts Collector's Guide 54 (caption) Tall and exceptional Brouwer vase with a rich, dark metallic drip ending unevenly over a vibrant, fire-painted flambé.
fire painting n. a special kiln-firing process producing an unusual colour or glaze effect; the effect thus produced.
ΚΠ
1713 Mr Mackgregory's Advt. to Gentlemen & Ladies 1 Oriental Gilding and Azuring, Fire-Painting, Majolicks, Porcelain.
1901 E. A. Barber Pottery & Porcelain U.S. (ed. 2) xxii. 494 The Fire Painting will again be restored in all its prismatic brilliancy.
2006 J. Miller Decorative Arts 161 (caption) The lustrous finish was achieved in the kiln by the technique known as Fire Painting.
fire-penny n. †(a) a tax or custom levied on ships to pay for beacons (obsolete); (b) (on the Scottish island of St Kilda) a payment made for the use of a tinderbox (now historical and rare). [It seems likely that sense (b) reflects a Scottish Gaelic expression, but no model has been traced.]
ΚΠ
1277 Patent Roll, 5 Edward I (P.R.O.: C 66/96) m. 17 Les..Bailifs as Barons des porz [sc. the Cinque Ports]..eyent les deus deners de Nefs costumers ke sunt apelez fire penyes a fius [= feux] sustenir en les lus acoustumez pur seurte de la Riuage.
1305 Patent Roll, 33 Edward I (P.R.O.: C 66/125) m. 8 La franchise des fir penyes por les feuz sustenir por peril & por damages de foreines en temps de la dite feire [sc. at Yarmouth].
1698 M. Martin Late Voy. St. Kilda iii. 117 There is but one Steel and Tinder-Box in all this Commonwealth; the Owner whereof fails not upon every occasion of striking Fire in the lesser Isles, to..exact Three Eggs, or one of the lesser Fowls..this by them is called the Fire-Penny.
1793 J. L. Buchanan Trav. W. Hebrides v. 137 The infamous pot-penny and fire-penny are dropt, as the people have got pots and flints of their own.
1886 Celtic Mag. Jan. 123 The other tax was the fire-penny, which was levied by the possessor of the only flint and steel in St. Kilda.
1972 C. Maclean Island on Edge of World iii. 45 In Martin's time, however, there were two island taxes, which were known respectively as the fire-penny and the pot-penny.
fire piece n. now somewhat rare (a) = firearm n.; (b) a work of art in which fire is represented or (in later use also) utilized.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > [noun]
cane of fire1550
shota1578
fire1590
fire piece1592
fireweapon?1592
powder instrument1613
firearm1643
firegun1677
bulldog1700
nail driver1823
peacemaker1840
thunder stick1918
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > painting > painting according to subject > [noun] > paintings of other scenes
pageant1451
fire piece1592
rhopographer1730
candlelight1763
hunting-piece1765
interior1829
fête galante1851
1592 J. Eliot Survay France 67 S Steuen of Turan, where they make the armour and fire peeces that are vsed through the realme.
1689 Coll. Prints & Paintings sold by Auction 19th July The Fire-piece of Troy, with thousands of Figures in it, finely painted on Copper.
1738 G. Smith Curious Relations II. 358 Twenty-seven Foresters, with Fire-Pieces in their Arms.
1775 J. Wright Let. in Athenæum 10 July (1886) 56/3 A report that I paint fire-pieces admirably.
1840 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Oct. 485 It is intended for a fire-light effect; yet it is without depth, or..any one thing that we can see, to recommend it... We most sincerely hope the trustees will not burn their fingers by touching this fire-piece.
1872 Jrnl. Royal United Service Inst. 15 855 I should like to ask whether the principle can be applied to a central fire piece, such as we have at present, or such as we are likely to have in the Army.
1921 Lake County Times (Hammond, Indiana) 7 Nov. 1/1 Officer Pedro..overpowered him and seized his fire piece before he was aware of the officer's presence.
1971 Washington Post 17 June c12 His gallery, which will show..an outdoor fire piece by Geny Dignac, will be open late this evening.
fire pile n. a pile of flammable material assembled ready for burning; (in early use) spec. a pyre on which a person is burnt to death or a corpse is cremated (now rare).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > cremation > [noun] > pile or pyre
adeOE
fireeOE
baleOE
pile1531
stacka1547
funeral pile1555
roge1559
fire pile1577
pyre1638
funeral pyre1658
death pile1791
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > wood as fuel > [noun] > a pile, stack, or bundle
faggotc1312
kida1350
faggald1488
bavin1528
woodpile1552
fire pile1577
brush-faggot1606
stalder1611
figate1645
kid-stack1653
stack-wood1664
brush1699
bavin-band1725
pimpa1731
bavin-stack1759
bundle-wood1879
wood-heap1943
1577 M. Hanmer tr. Bp. Eusebius in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. vi. xl. 116 Epimachus and Alexander..were throwne into a fire pile [Gk. πυρὶ ἀσβέστῳ] together with foure women.
1664 H. More Modest Enq. Myst. Iniquity xv. 167 Multitudes..martyred..either at one common fire-pyle, or else in barns and dwelling-houses.
1830 Christian Observer Oct. 604/2 Martyrs..led to the torture of the fire-pile.
1863 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 292 Hercules..who has ascended from the fire-pile to the Nectar Hall of Olympus.
1865 Harper's Mag. Jan. 211/1 Let's have as big a fire-pile as wood can make!
1934 Kingston (Jamaica) Daily Gleaner 9 Mar. 24/3 The Rangers and Rovers were around their Camp Fire Pile ready to carry on their programme.
2012 F. Borelli Surviving Zombies viii. 101 It was the first time we'd ever had to put infected-but-not-yet-turned dead human bodies onto the zombie fire pile.
fire pipe n. a large pipe or hose for conveying water to a fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > hose
fire pipe1725
firehose1816
1725 Daily Post 29 June A Fire broke out in this City.., which by the great Plenty of Water from two Fire Pipes adjoyning, the Assistance of the Firemen, and the Direction and good Conduct of the Lord Provost..was extinguish'd.
1827 H. P. Brougham Disc. Objects, Advantages & Pleasures Sci. 11 Water..forced out of a pump, or from a fire-pipe.
2000 Washington Post (Nexis) 13 July a1 Steel girders that support fire pipes, communications cables and power lines throughout the subway tunnels.
fire piston n. a device for making fire consisting of a piston and a hollow cylinder into which the piston is rapidly pushed, the heat generated by the compression of air igniting a piece of tinder attached to the piston; = fire syringe n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > mechanical device
fire stickc1300
flint-mill1757
fire piston1846
gas poker1855
gas lighter1856
fire drill1861
fire-churn1863
lighter1875
hand drill1891
fire-plough1893
electric wand1898
wax jack1937
1846 Nat. Magic 23 in Chambers's Misc. 9 The Fire Piston—Friction. An apparently magical mode of producing fire or light, is by a common air-tight cylinder and close-fitting piston.
1920 Brit. Mus. Return 64 A fire-piston of buffalo horn from the Kachin, Upper Burma.
2014 H. H. Schobert Energy & Society (ed. 2) xxii. 366 It is worth noting the similarity of operation of the diesel engine and the fire piston.
fireplate n. (a) a metal plate that serves to support, enclose, or cover the fire in a fireplace, oven, stove, etc.; (b) a metal plate or screen that acts as a heat deflector or prevents the spread of fire or fumes.
ΚΠ
1721 J. Lambert Particular & Inventory Estate of Sir John Lambert p. B/1 Iron and Tinn... Fireshovel, Tongs, Poker, two Gridirons, four Trevets, one Fire-plate [etc.]
1774 Acct. Method securing Buildings (& Ships) against Fire 6 A single fire-Plate under a Crevice in a Floor, or over a Crack in a Ceiling, might have prevented the Fire of London.
1877 Arbitrator Nov. 4/2 The captain, looking about him, caught sight of my cast-iron fire-plates, which people in those days used to build into the back of the hearth.
1952 U.S. Treaties & Other Internat. Agreements III. 777/2 Pipe, fire plates, pieces used in boilermaking, partly worked, and bearings.
2006 Gloucester Citizen (Nexis) 10 Oct. 4 Thieves who stole a fireplate from a home in the Forest of Dean could have put the occupants at risk of inhaling dangerous fumes.
fire-plough n. a method of starting a fire by friction, by rubbing a stick vigorously along a groove in a flat piece of soft wood; (also) the stick used in this process; cf. fire drill n. (b).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > mechanical device
fire stickc1300
flint-mill1757
fire piston1846
gas poker1855
gas lighter1856
fire drill1861
fire-churn1863
lighter1875
hand drill1891
fire-plough1893
electric wand1898
wax jack1937
1893 I. K. Funk et al. Standard Dict. Eng. Lang. I Fire-plow.
1934 E. Eyre European Civilisation I. i. 39 The methods of fire-making in use are: the fire-plough (the rubbing up and down of a piece of hard wood in a groove of soft timber), which may well be the oldest device of its kind.
2014 C. Nyerges How to survive Anywhere (ed. 2) ii. 49 In real life, it would be quite doubtful that Tom Hanks [in Castaway] would fail at the hand drill, and then succeed at the more difficult fire plow.
fireplug n. now chiefly North American (a) a fire hydrant; (b) colloquial (originally and chiefly Sport) a short, stocky person.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > sources of water
firehole1682
firecock1707
fireplug1709
fire cask1800
firewater1916
1709 Act 7 Anne c. 17 A Fire-Plug, a Key to open the Stop-Cock, and also a Pipe for the Water to come thereout, to be made use of as Occasion shall require.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. xx. 202 The pony looked with great attention into a fire-plug which was near him.
1930 Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Press 5 Sept. 13/3 Things like that mean little to the human fire-plug of the National league champions.
1979 S. Goodwin Blood of Paradise xi. 135 He didn't even much like this damn Peggy. She was too short and chesty, a red-headed fireplug.
2004 Toronto Star (Nexis) 18 Oct. c2 Ticats running back Troy Davis, a 5-foot-7, 190-pound fireplug.., demolished the Argo defence for 233 yards.
2012 Kitchener-Waterloo (Ont.) (Nexis) 30 Aug. b4 Caps are going missing from fire hydrants in Kitchener, which endangers the drinking water supply, city officials say. The spinoff metal covers were taken from a dozen fire plugs recently, Kitchener Utilities says.
fire policy n. a document of insurance guaranteeing compensation for loss or damage to property by fire; cf. fire insurance n.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > insurance > [noun] > insurance policy > specific types of policy
fire policy1737
valued policy1737
life policy1751
wagering policy1766
wager policy1766
time policy1808
wager-insurance1824
voyage policy1848
ppi1895
floater1900
maintenance contract1915
death futures1993
1737 London Evening-Post 25 Aug. The Average Clause..in all their Fire Policies on Goods for upwards of 1000 l. will..be entirely omitted.
1867 Merchants' Mag. July 40 Most of the fire policies used in this country give the insurers the right of rebuilding or repairing premises destroyed or injured by fire, instead of paying the amount of the loss.
2014 Bath Chron. (Nexis) 12 Nov. 8 A child protection policy..[is] as equally important as a fire policy.
fire polish n. a polish or sheen produced by the application of heat, typically in a flame; an instance of giving something such a polish.
ΚΠ
1758 R. Dossie Handmaid to Arts II. i. iii. 38 The difficulty in this operation lies..in regulating properly the fire in the furnace or stove for giving the fire polish.
1813 J. M. Good et al. Pantologia at Wax (sealing) The hard sealing-wax is formed into sticks... In order to give them the fire-polish or gloss, a furnace or stove..is usually provided.
1919 Jrnl. Amer. Ceramic Soc. 2 764 The vapor films thus formed act as cushions preserving the fire polish of the glass while it is being shaped.
2005 A. D. Yablon Optical Fiber Fusion Splicing i. 5 (caption) The heat source is scanned back and forth along the splice to perform a fire-polish.
fire-polish v. transitive to subject (an article or substance) to fire polishing.
ΚΠ
1894 G. R. White Elem. Chem. iii. 228 (heading) To fire-polish the edges of glassware.
1896 Med. Age 11 May 281/1 Take a capillary glass tube, one-eighth of an inch calibre, draw to a point.., and fire-polish.
1971 Materials & Technol. II. vi. 375 The moil of the bottle so formed is cracked off, and the rim is fire polished to provide the finished tumbler.
2009 Wall St. Jrnl. 10 June d7/3 That initial bubble of glass is expanded and thickened... Next it is shaped, or ‘fire polished’, with a flaming, hand-held torch.
fire-polished adj. having a gloss or sheen produced by fire polishing.
ΚΠ
1836 Amer. Railroad Jrnl. 14 May 297/2 The New England Glass Company are now manufacturing plain fire-polished dishes, a rich and beautiful article.
1867 Rep. Artisans Paris Universal Exhib. ii. 142 Two large oval dishes..had all the clearness and brilliancy of a fire-polished article.
2002 Beadwork Dec. 52/1 Size 8° seed beads, or 3mm fire-polished.
fire polishing n. the process of giving a fire polish to a material, esp. glass or plastic.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > glass-making > [noun] > specific processes
fritting1816
fire polishing1829
pot-setting1839
wetting1888
mould-blowing1948
float process1959
1829 Jrnl. Franklin Inst. 3 New Ser. 204 The knob..only requires fire polishing, to make it a neat article, fit for immediate use.
1956 C. Singer Hist. Technol. (1957) II. 335 Monochrome glasses..were..finished by rotary-polishing if plain, or by fire-polishing.
2008 J. Park Bioceramics iii. 37 Fire polishing removes surface flaws by heating the material just above its glass transition temperature.
fire position n. Military a position from which a gun is fired, or which is suitable for firing; cf. firing position n. (b) at firing n. Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military operations > distribution of troops > military position > [noun] > gun-site
cannonery1598
emplacement1811
firing-place1879
fire position1889
machine-gun post1915
gun-site1943
1889 N.Y. Times 17 Nov. 10/1 (heading) The choice of the fire position.
1905 Westm. Gaz. 15 May 4/1 Cavalry could do next to nothing, and artillery could seldom find really effective fire-positions.
2009 J. V. Lawless in T. O'Reilly Our Struggle for Independence 131 The bank was so high and steep..that it did not offer a good fire position.
fire prong n. a pronged implement for stoking or tending a fire; = fire-fork n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for heating buildings, rooms, etc. > hearth or fireplace > pronged instrument for arranging fire
fire-fork1356
prong1492
fire prong1565
1565 T. Stapleton tr. Bede Hist. Church Eng. v. xiv. f. 170 Incontinent ij. wycked sprites hauyng fyer pronges [L. vomeres] in their handes rose vppe and stroke me one in the hed, and the other in the sole of my feete.
1816 Telescope (Columbia, S. Carolina) 17 Sept. After many efforts, and many exertions of bellows and fire-prong, the coal he had brought from the demon's fire became totally extinct.
1963 R. M. Nance Gloss. Cornish Sea-words 131 In W. Cornwall silver table-forks are ‘prongs’ and a fire-fork used to arrange turf on an open-hearth fire is a ‘fire-prong’.
2001 Edmonton (Alberta) Jrnl. (Nexis) 16 Feb. a12 More than 300 items from Althorp..will be sold... They include furniture, paintings, porcelain, books and 100 fire prongs but none of the princess's personal effects.
fire protection n. protection from or against fires; frequently attributive.In quot. 1826 in the name of a company.
ΚΠ
1826 Providence (Rhode Island) Patriot 22 Apr. A resolution for raising a Furniture and Goods Fire Protection Company, was referred to Messrs. Danforth.
1851 N. Amer. & U.S. Gaz. 20 June The adoption of some definite and well contrived system of fire-protection.
1950 Bull. Atomic Scientists Aug. 255/1 Fire protection measures have two aims, to prevent the start of fires and to impede the spread of fire.
2008 R. Burke Fire Protection i. 25 Water spray systems provide fire protection against gaseous and liquid flammable materials.
fire pump n. a pump used to supply water for firefighting; (also) a fire engine with such a pump.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > pump
fire pump1708
syringe-engine1875
stirrup pump1939
1708 A. Boyer tr. J. Donneau de Visé Hist. Siege of Toulon i. 40 Fire Pumps [Fr. les pompes à feu], Vessels full of Water, Water-Pumps, Pails, and Utensils, all these things were in the Ships and in the neighbouring Magazines for quenching the Fire.
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 9 Feb. 2/1 The fire-pump..has a throwing power of sixty feet above the highest pinnacle of the hotel.
1937 Manch. Guardian 21 Oct. 4 Fire-pump for emergencies..[with] more power than the ordinary big fire engine... The pump is so constructed as to..carry a complement of eight men.
2008 Yachting July 75/2 The required emergency fire pump is tucked to one side.
† fire-purr n. [ < fire n. + purr n.1] chiefly English regional (northern) Obsolete a poker.Apparently only attested after the 17th cent. in glossaries.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for heating buildings, rooms, etc. > hearth or fireplace > poker
purr1357
fire-purra1451
fire pike1483
poker1534
fire-pote1638
pote1638
proker1742
fire point1789
teaser1839
kennedy1864
curate1878
tickler1881
fire stick1896
a1451 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1865) III. 100 (MED) j fire purre ferri.
1558 in J. Raine Wills & Inventories N. Counties Eng. (1835) I. 162 A fyer porre a payre of tonges [etc.].
1629 in G. Ornsby Select. from Househ. Bks. Naworth Castle (1878) 265 For mendinge the kitchinge fire porre.
1855 Gloss. Yorks. Words Fire-porr.
1876 C. C. Robinson Gloss. Words Dial. Mid-Yorks. Fire-pur, a poker.
fire raft n. now historical a raft used as a waterborne incendiary; a fire float.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > war vessel > [noun] > fireship
fire vessela1382
palander1524
fire boata1615
fireship1626
mine shipc1643
machine-vessel1694
fire raft1759
catamaran1804
fire-coffer1804
fire-junk1822
volcano-ship1860
1759 London Chron. 13 Oct. 366/2 They sent down a fire-raft of four or five hundred feet long; but it did no hurt, being towed by our boats clear of our shipping.
1848 H. H. Wilson Hist. Brit. India 1805–35 III. i. 52 To..destroy any armed boats or fire-rafts they might meet with.
1969 F. B. Woodford & A. M. Woodford All our Yesterdays iii. 63 He floated blazing fire rafts down the river, but the schooners eluded them.
2003 Philadelphia Inquirer (Nexis) 13 Apr. l4 The principal weapons of the navy were 13 galleys with rowers, each with a single cannon; fire rafts; and two floating batteries that carried 10 cannons each.
fire-raid n. an air raid with incendiary bombs.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities in the air > [noun] > air operation > bombing raid > type of
terror raid1917
blitzkrieg1939
blitz1940
fire-blitz1940
fire-raid1940
Baedeker raid1942
nuisance raid1942
thunderbolt raid1943
1940 Irish Times 31 Dec. 5/2 (headline) Fire raid on London.
1960 A. Koestler Lotus & Robot ii. vi. 177 The two conventional fire-raids on Tokyo, earlier in the same year, had claimed another 100,000 victims.
2008 N. Hanson First Blitz (2009) xxvii. 427 Others in the Air Ministry were also pressing for a fire-raid on..one of Germany's towns or cities.
fire rake n. (a) a tool used to rake hot or burning materials in a fire or furnace; (b) a rake used in firefighting to move hot or burning debris; (in later use) esp. one used to clear a firebreak. [With sense (a) compare Middle Low German vǖrrāke.]
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for heating buildings, rooms, etc. > hearth or fireplace > rake
fire rake1356
1356 in H. T. Riley Memorials London (1868) 284 (MED) Firrake.
1495 Will of M. Salman in E. Roberts & K. Parker Southampton Probate Inventories, 1447–1575 (1992) I. 11 A Paire of tonges & a Fire Rake, vj d.
1509 Inventory of Edmund Dudley in Archaeologia (1920–1) 71 39 A payr of tonges: a fyre schowell: a fyre rake.
1638 H. Hexam tr. S. Marolois & A. Girard Art Fortification ii. 32 One must of necessity vse showels, spades, fire-rakes, pickaxses, mattocks, hatches, bils, and axses.
1845 Morning Post 6 Mar. 5/2 A fire-rake about four feet in length fell close to him, and buried itself in the ground.
1910 Youth's Compan. 10 Nov. 623/1 He worked away.., raking back the leaves and ground cover with his fire rake, making a trail about three feet wide, across which he hoped the fire would not jump.
1968 Guardian 30 Apr. 3 She had said..the boys..killed the old woman with a poker and a fire rake.
2004 Rotarian Aug. 10/1 Dedicated men and women chopping through dense brush with fire rakes, axes, and chain saws.
fire-range n. a fireplace or grate, or a large cooking stove (usually one burning solid fuel); cf. range n.1 5.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > equipment for food preparation > stove or cooker > [noun]
range1423
buccan1611
fire-range1668
stew-stove1727
screw-range1772
stew-hole1780
cooking stove1796
range stove1803
cooking range1805
cookstove1820
kitchener1829
gas range1853
cooker1860
gas cooker1873
Soyer's stove1878
hay-box1885
blazer1889
machine oven1890
paraffin stove1891
primus1893
electric cooker1894
electric range1894
Yukon stove1898
fireless cooker1904
picnic stove1910
pressure stove1914
Tommy cooker1915
rangette1922
Aga1931
barbecue1931
Rayburn1947
sigri1949
jiko1973
1668 in P. C. D. Brears Yorks. Probate Inventories 1542–1689 (1972) 135 Item in the great parlor one fire range.
a1691 P. Ventris Rep. (1696) i. 304 A Fire Range was not in use in the Romans time; and therefore Instrumentum ferreum is well enough, with the Anglicè.
1782 W. Gilpin Observ. River Wye vi. 47 Here are the remains of an oven,..which was large enough to bake a whole ox; and of a fire-range, wide enough to roast him.
1899 Westm. Gaz. 19 May 2/1 The kitchen, with its..huge fire-range.
1993 J. Cox Jessica's Girl iii. 62 Phoebe could see a broad pine dresser and a lovely old fire-range overhung with all manner of copper pots and pans.
fire ranger n. North American an official responsible for patrolling or watching an area to guard against the outbreak of fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > [noun] > one who watches or keeps guard > watcher against fire
fire-spy1676
fire warden1724
fire-watcher1830
towerman1895
fire ranger1897
1897 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Sentinel 4 Mar. 4/7 The only attempt we have so far made to prevent forest fires is a system of fire rangers based on the recommendation of Mr. White.
1928 Daily Express 29 Aug. 2/5 The British Columbia fire ranger, whose lookout station is on Mount Cartier, 9,000 feet above sea level.
2011 F. Cipolla It shocked even Us! v. 65 Every fire season, a state fire ranger was posted high above the trees to spot any fires.
fire-rated adj. (of an object, material, etc.) rated for fire resistance (with reference to its ability to withstand a standard fire resistance test).
ΚΠ
1936 Timberman May 36/2 Progress has been made on tests of the..two-hour fire-rated wood floor.
1980 M. Frayn Make & Break i, in Plays: One (1985) 258 For that price you're getting a fire-rated wall..that you can put in place with one hand.
2002 Built It Nov. 39/2 High quality steel products. This includes..security products and fire-rated windows and doors.
fire regulation n. any of various legal requirements relating to building design, behaviour in communal areas, etc., intended to maximize people's safety in the event of a fire; usually in plural.
ΚΠ
1818 Minutes 12 Sept. in Proc. Board Trustees City of Detroit, 1815–24 (1904) 35/1 The Board took up the returns..under the fire regulations..; and thereupon Oliver W. Miller was fined 50 cents and costs.
1898 Morning Oregonian (Portland, Oregon) 24 Nov. 4/1 The Baldwin hotel..was..a mere fire-trap. Barring an outside shell of brick, designed to answer the easy letter of the fire regulation of twenty years back.., it was a vast mass of highly inflammable materials.
1951 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 51 388/3 Everything is explained to make the new nurse feel at home... A set of simple fire regulations is included for her.
1995 A. Warner Morvern Callar (1996) 145 To hell with fire regulations, they switch off all the lights just have the music going.
fire-resistant adj. able to withstand fire without damage or without structural failure.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > quality of being incombustible > [adjective] > fire-resistant
fire-resisting1612
fire-resistant1853
flame-resistant1947
flame-retardant1947
1853 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 16 311/1 This invention relates to the manufacture of an improved fire-resistant cement.
1902 Science 12 Sept. 424 The treatment of wood with a view of making it fire-resistant.
1946 Nature 19 Oct. 462/2 The treatment of the boards to render them fire-resistant.
2004 Horse Illustr. Apr. 82 (advt.) Why not start with a low-maintenance, crib proof, fire resistant barn?
fire-retardant n. and adj. (a) n. a substance or treatment that confers the property of slowing or halting the spread of fire; (b) adj. (usually with hyphen) that slows or halts the spread of fire.
ΚΠ
1893 Street Railway Jrnl. May 338/2 Its V & A paint..is claimed to be an excellent fire retardant and is designed for use on brick, wood or stone.
1915 Proc. Nat. Fire Protection Assoc., 19th Ann. Meeting 108 There is nothing new in the idea of treating wood to make it fire retardant.
1961 Engineering 6 Oct. 447/2 The properties of bentonite as a fire retardant.
1982 Daily Tel. 23 July 6/3 Foam mattresses used were fitted with a fire retardant cotton covering.
2006 New Yorker 6 Nov. 101/2 Now he's promoting a line of fire-retardant pajamas.
fire road n. chiefly North American a strip of land cleared of flammable material, intended to act as a fire break; (also) a permanent road providing firefighters with access to remote areas of forest, grassland, etc.; cf. fire trail n.A permanent fire road, or sections of it, may often be intended to fulfil both purposes.
ΚΠ
1850 Cultivator (Albany, N.Y.) July 253/1 There is on each side of the railroad.., and running parallel with it, what is termed a fire road. It is a cleared path, about twenty feet wide, which has been cleared of all the bushes and roots, by grubbing. The object of this ‘fire road’ or path, is to prevent the fire from crossing over it..and into the woods.
1884 Christian Advocate 16 Oct. 678 In our less thickly settled forests..in certain months of the year there should be a fire-patrol maintained. We should keep fire roads open.
1958 Lowell (Mass.) Sun 24 June 8/6 The result is at least one predictable fire each year... The fire road will provide access for apparatus and hose lines directly through the center of the danger area.
2001 D. M. Dean Deep Six i. 7 It teems with Yuppies riding their damn mountain bikes along the fire roads, and hikers trekking along in thousands of dollars worth of..backpacks.
† fire-roll n. Nautical Obsolete rare a drum roll used to raise a fire alarm.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > warning of imminent danger or evil > [noun] > warning arousing the unwary > device for sounding alarm > device warning of fire
fire bell1596
fire-drum1739
fire alarm1763
fire-roll1830
thermostat1881
thermo-call1895
1830 F. Marryat King's Own III. xii. 213 He desired the ‘fire-roll’ to be beat by the drummer.
fire safety n. adoption of or adherence to measures intended to minimize the risk of harm from accidental fires; safety from danger or injury in the event of a fire.
ΚΠ
1919 Safety Engin. May 224/1 The principal industries of the United States and Canada are rapidly establishing safety and welfare departments, and under these department managements fire safety falls as naturally as the safeguarding of other hazards.
1950 High School Jrnl. 33 86 Fire safety brings up the topic of type of construction, with regard both to ease of exit from the building and to use of slow-burning or non-combustible materials.
1990 OnSat 22 July 8/3 The creators of the program hope..to help train and educate the public in areas such as fire safety.
2004 P. Hymers New Home Builder iii. 52 You may have to discuss with your architect and building control surveyor how you think your home will work in terms of its layout for fire safety.
fire sale n. originally U.S. (a) a sale of goods (sometimes slightly damaged) remaining after the destruction of commercial premises by fire; (b) a sale of goods or assets at a very low price (originally ostensibly after a fire), esp. when the seller is facing bankruptcy.
ΚΠ
1830 Morning Chron. 21 Sept. The claimant..made 700l. by a lot which he had purchased at a fire sale.
1879 St. Louis (Missouri) Globe-Democrat 16 May 5 Great excitement at the fire sale... Plenty of bargains left.
1919 F. P. Adams in N.Y. Tribune 14 June 10/4 They [sc. Broadway people] are also noted for their credulity. They believe unshakably in smoke, fire, and removal sales.
1935 Economist 13 July 66/2 Mr Bennet's assurance to the Canadian House of Commons..that his Government had no intention to dump stocks at ‘fire-sale’ prices failed to calm the world's wheat markets.
1988 Daily Tel. 27 June 19 The Baring family was left to conduct a fire-sale of its houses and pictures, and to resume control of a shrunken..business.
2012 N. N. Taleb Antifragile v. xviii. 280 The Parisian bank Societé Générale rushed to sell..close to seventy billion dollars' worth of stocks, a very large amount for any single ‘fire sale’.
† fire-salt adj. Obsolete (of an argument, opinion, etc.) critical, caustic.Only recorded in the writings of T. Fuller.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [adjective] > tasting of salt
salta1398
saltyc1440
over-saltc1450
saltish1477
fire-salt1642
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > seasoning > [adjective] > salted
salta1398
saltyc1440
over-saltc1450
saltish1477
salted1526
oversalted1575
corned1621
fire-salt1642
salten1654
1642 T. Fuller Holy State iii. xxi. 210 With salt, that is with wisdome and discretion, non salibus, sed sale; nor yet with smarting jeeres, like those whose discourse is fire-salt, speaking constant satyrs to the disgrace of others.
1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine ii. xii. 246 Partly because the water hereof was salt with a witness, fire-salt, as I may say.
fire season n. a period of the year when outbreaks of fire, esp. wildfires, are most likely to occur.
ΚΠ
1838 New Yorker 5 May 109/3 The closing week in April has always been regarded as the ‘fire season’ in New-York; but we are gratified to perceive that the destruction of property this year has been much less than many of the preceding.
1901 Wide World Mag. 8 194/2 The long grass was as inflammable as tinder; but this not being the ‘fire’ season we anticipated no danger.
2004 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 6 Dec. 9 (headline) Climate change altering fire season.
fire service n. now chiefly British an organization in charge of preventing and fighting fires, and providing other emergency and rescue services; = fire brigade n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > fire-brigade
fire company1737
fire department1798
fire brigade1832
fire service1843
fire command1891
1843 C. H. Town tr. E. Sue Myst. of Paris i. i. 15/2 I belonged to the fire service [Fr. je suis de corvée pour l'incendie]; we arrived at the fire; they told me that there was an old woman who could not get out.
1951 Good Housek. Home Encycl. 85/1 See that everyone in the household knows how to contact the nearest Fire Service, by telephone if possible.
2005 Daily Mail (Nexis) 10 Jan. 8 About 10,000 people were evacuated by the emergency services, including RAF, fire service and lifeboat crews.
2011 J. Buchan Trawlerman x. 210 Imagine being in a building that catches fire,..and there's no fire service to come to your rescue. It's just you and an extinguisher.
† fire shell n. Obsolete (a) an incendiary bomb; (b) (in the Caribbean) a conch or similar shell blown to raise the alarm in the event of a fire (rare).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > signalling > visual signalling > luminous signals > [noun] > pyrotechnic signals
blue light1761
fire shell1765
Indian light1787
Bengal light1791
Indian fire1831
flare-up light1858
flare1883
Very1907
fairy light1916
Aldis lamp1917
Aldis1918
Bengal fire1941
flame float1942
Bengal flash1946
1765 J. Elphinston Princ. Eng. Lang. Digested I. 203/1 Bomb, fire-shell.
1816 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. 1815–16 5 Jan. in Jrnl. W. India Proprietor (1834) 70 A fire-shell is blown, and all the negroes..hasten to give their assistance.
1833 Rep. Select Comm. Extinction Slavery Brit. Dominions 31 in Parl. Papers (H.C. 721) XX. 1 I have never known a shell blown at five o'clock in the morning except a fire-shell, it would turn out all the population of the district.
1895 G. Griffith Outlaws of Air xxiii. 205 Port bow gun, load with fire-shell and set those two railway stations on fire.
1914 Washington Post 26 Dec. 9 His [sc. Mr Hammond's] new fire shell..is somewhat vaguely described as a great projectile which can be discharged from a siege gun and which..[can] spread uncontrollable flames wherever it strikes.
fire shock n. the effect of a military bombardment upon an opposing force; (also) the psychological effect of such an attack upon a soldier or detachment of troops.
ΚΠ
1836 Army & Navy Chron. 12 May 291/1 We ought to be prepared at every important point, to resist the fire shock of such a force.
1892 N.Y. Times 16 July 8 Col. Austen and Major Haubennestel..devoted themselves accordingly to getting the troops of their commands accustomed to ‘fire shock’—the firings in this instance being with blank ammunition.
1998 P. Mercer Inkerman 1854 95 Often the downhill bayonet charge following such fire shock will tip them [sc. the Russians] into precipitate retreat.
† fire shooting n. Obsolete hunting by night in which the light from burning wood is used to illuminate the eyes of the game; a hunt conducted in this way; = fire hunting n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > [noun] > hunting with lights
fire-lighting1848
jack-hunting1857
fire shooting1860
fire hunting1885
jacklighting1895
pit-lamping1924
spotlighting1926
pitlighting1969
lamping1984
1860 Freedom's Champion (Atchison, Kansas) 29 Sept. 1/2 ‘Mike, what kind of night would this be for fire-shooting?’ said the Doctor to the meditative Nimrod.
1876 J. Habberton Jericho Road x. 95 He had done ‘fire-shooting’ near springs elsewhere.
1898 Where to hunt Amer. Game 120 Woodcock are steadily decreasing, from being killed off by fire shooting at the South on the winter feeding grounds.
fire-shot adj. [ < fire n. + shot adj.] shot through with flames or the colours of flames.
ΚΠ
1856 Morning Post 4 Aug. 2/5 When the flames dart high, and the fireshot sky Is blood from east to west.
1927 Observer 18 Dec. 19/3 Mr. Richard Goolden's fire-shot devil.
1994 L. A. Graf Firestorm xxiv. 239 Behind the frenetic dance of lightning strikes, a sullen fire-shot glow was building in the ash cloud overhead.
fire sign n. Astrology any of the three signs of the zodiac, Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, associated with the element fire (see sense A. 1b(a)); (also) a person born under one of these signs. [Quot. 1495 may instead show a use of fiery adj.]
ΚΠ
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) viii. ix. sig. tvii/1 And soo they ben ordeyned in foure partes of heuen. For in the Eest partye ben the fyre sygnes [a1398 BL Add. fyry signes, L. ignea]. Aries Leo Sagittarius.
1554 F. van Brunswick tr. A. de Montulmo Ryghte Excellente Treat. Astron. sig. Kvii A faire hotte daie, because of the corporal coniunccion of Sol and Mercurius in the fier signe of Leo.
1757 S. Pearse Coelestial Diary (ed. 39) As the Conjunction of the Sun and Jupiter, or Mars, (when both in the Fire Sign) brings with it greater Heat, than if one were in a cold Sign, and the other in a hot.
1892 Lucifer 15 June 286 Thus Aries which is a ‘fire’ sign, is polarized by Libra which is an ‘air’ sign.
1982 C. Rose Astrol. Counselling vi. 78 The Fire signs follow an impromptu and unrehearsed development, one that is based on conjecture, in which we open ourselves to the possibility of things to come.
2005 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 13 Feb. i. 19/5 She told women that if they were in love with a man born under one of the fire signs—Leo, Aries and Sagittarius—they would never be bored.
fire silvering n. a process analogous to fire gilding but using silver in place of gold; an instance of this; see fire gilding n.
ΚΠ
1871 Manufacturer & Builder Mar. 72/3 Only the metallic silver remains. It is then brightened by cleaning and burnishing, and stands as much wear and tear as fire-gilding; in fact, it is a fire-silvering.
1906 Sci. Amer. Suppl. 11 Aug. 25590/3 The amalgam is to be used for fire-silvering.
1971 Stud. in Conservation 16 118 We have developed a more gentle procedure of removing engraving which is based on the historic technique of fire silvering.
† fire-snort adj. Obsolete rare breathing fire from the nose.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > temperament > [adjective] > spirited or skittish
skeyc1440
skittish?1510
skeigh1513
fiery?1561
gay1590
sprightful1598
frampold1600
mettleablec1600
mettle1606
fire-snort1608
mettleda1627
spiritly1630
spiritful1644
mettlesome1655
skeighish1827
flighty1828
slashing1862
fly-about1889
buckish1911
snuffy1955
1608 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 98 The fire-snort Palfreys [Fr. des coursiers feu-souflants].
fire spirit n. a supernatural being regarded as inhabiting, or embodying the spirit of, fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > [noun] > of specific things > fire
fire god1638
fire spirit1647
fire deity1786
fire fiend1803
society > society and the community > dissent > [noun] > causing dissension > one who
sower1380
firebranda1382
barratorc1430
makebate1529
bate-makera1564
mischief-master1567
boutefeu?1584
make-debate1588
breed-bate1593
kindle-fire1595
brew-bate1602
brand1608
fling-brand1616
make-strife1617
mischief-monger1620
blow-coal1622
kindle-coal1630
fire spirit1647
mischief-maker1675
mischief-doer1822
mixer1938
1647 J. Sparrow tr. J. Böhme XL. Questions conc. Soule 16 The Spirit of the Aire, proceedeth from the bitter Eternall Fire-spirit [Ger. Fewergeiste], which also goeth forward after the Wonders.
1742 W. Law Appeal to All that Doubt i. 72 A fallen Angel, is nothing else but a Fire-spirit imprison'd in the same manner as a Flint is an imprison'd Fire.
1871 E. B. Tylor Primitive Culture II. xvi. 253 The Fire-spirit.
1957 N. Frye Anat. Crit. 153 The connections of..Puck with fire-spirits.
2013 Weekend Austral. (Nexis) 7 Dec. A fire spirit had thrown the first burning stick in the form of a shooting star across the heavens and a flame trail had followed in its wake.
fire spout n. (a) a device which shoots out burning liquid or flames (rare); (b) a jet of fire or burning material; esp. = fire fountain n. 2 (now rare).In quot. 2012 with reference to a video game.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > ejected volcanic material > [noun] > volcanic fire
fireeOE
furnace1660
wildfire1672
fire spout1739
1739 W. Warburton Comm. Pope's Ess. Man in Hist. Wks. Learned Apr. 245 He had made use of Fire-spouts or Pumps to fling in liquid Fire into the Enemy's Ships.
1787 Edinb. Mag. 5 381/1 Three fire-spouts broke out. of which that in the north-west was the greatest.
1966 Fire Res. Abstr. & Rev. 8 215 In a wild fire such a supply of uniformly combustible mixture is unlikely for any length of time and the rapid dying out and fluctuation of the fire spout results.
1996 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 7 Aug. c3 This was a fairly tame performance, nicely staged with multiple screens and hidden fire spouts, but lacking anything truly magnificent.
2012 Marketwire (Nexis) 28 June Kingdom Ignis is fire-themed and has lava flows, lava beds and fire spouts for players to battle around.
fire sprinkler n. a component of a fire safety system of a building, installed in the ceiling to discharge water automatically into a room in the event of a fire; = sprinkler n. 1c; also attributive, esp. in fire sprinkler system.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > sprinkler
sprinkler1865
fire sprinkler1867
sprinkler system1876
sprinkler installation1887
1867 6th Ann. Rep. St. Louis County Agric. & Mech. Assoc. in App. to Senate Jrnl. (Missouri) (24th Gen. Assembly) I. 543 Fire Sprinkler.—E. Shotwell, Ashland, Ohio, maker.
?1876 C. Walford Insurance Cycl. III. 659 An ingenious adaptation of the system of ‘Fire Sprinklers’ was made by Mr. Charles W. Mills... By his process the fire engines can be made to distribute their supply through the sprinklers placed in the building.
1939 H. G. Hodges City Managem. xix. 498 The water tower, extending vertically through the building, permits a number of direct hose connections, or fire sprinklers.
2014 N.Z. Herald (Nexis) 27 Mar. Auckland Airport's domestic terminal was temporarily evacuated this morning after a fire sprinkler was set off.
† fire-sprit n. English regional (northern) Obsolete a person who displays passion or great animation; cf. firebrand n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harmful mischievousness > harmfully mischievous person > [noun]
disturberc1290
troublera1382
distroublerc1440
disturblerc1440
boutefeu?1584
mischief1586
breed-bate1593
trouble-feast1603
flight-head1605
trouble-rest1605
trouble-house1608
trouble-cupa1610
trouble-state1609
seek-trouble1611
fling-brand1616
trouble-town1619
blow-coal1622
trouble-world1663
mischief-maker1675
fire-sprit1847
firebug1869
ratbag1890
disturbant1894
mixer1938
1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre II. ix. 228 I have seen what a fire-sprit you can be when you are indignant.
† fire-spy n. Obsolete rare a person who watches for outbreaks of fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > [noun] > one who watches or keeps guard > watcher against fire
fire-spy1676
fire warden1724
fire-watcher1830
towerman1895
fire ranger1897
1676 C. Hatton in E. M. Thompson Corr. Family of Hatton (1878) I. 141 One of my Ld Craven's fire-spyes.
firestarter n. (a) North American a piece of flammable material used to help start a fire; a firelighter (firelighter n. 2); (b) a person who harmfully or destructively sets fire to something; (c) (chiefly British) a dynamic person; a person who sets events in motion.
ΚΠ
1875 National Teachers' Monthly Dec. 45 No fire-starters will ever please the great majority of people so well as the good, old-fashioned, orthodox, brimstone match.
1884 Cleveland (Ohio) Herald 29 Apr. 2/3 No systematic effort has been made to ferret out the fire-starter.
1928 Chicago Tribune 5 Aug. ii. 5/1 Shredded birch bark or pine shavings are sure fire starters.
1957 Los Angeles Times 8 Nov. 5/1 (heading) Rancher fined as fire starter.
1985 Associated Press (Nexis) 20 Sept. I'm not a guy who's going to carry a team... We've got so many firestarters.
1993 Cottage Life (Toronto, Ont.) June 69/2 (advt.) A totally natural pine fire starter that is a by-product of the U.S. forest industry.
2002 G. Bendelow & G. Brady in G. Bendelow Gender, Health & Healing ix. 172 He's a psycho, a little firestarter—he comes up behind you if you stand still and sets fire to your trousers.
2004 Mojo June 59/1 Marty Wilde had charted with Endless Sleep in July, but Cliff Richard was the real firestarter.
fire station n. a place where firefighters are based and in which firefighting equipment is housed; the headquarters of a fire crew or fire brigade.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > fire-brigade > headquarters of fire-brigade
fire station1819
station1833
fire hall1866
firehouse1869
fire command1941
1819 Ipswich Jrnl. 9 Oct. Information was sent to the different fire stations, and in a short time several engines were upon the spot, but no water could be obtained for about ten minutes.
1877 Fireman June 2/1 (heading) The new metropolitan central fire station.
1979 N. Wallington Fireman! 15 A world that normally lies hidden behind the closed doors of a fire station until suddenly they crash open and one or two bright-red appliances emerge.
2011 Motor Boating June 56/2 Years ago, any local fire station had a roll or two of leaky hose they'd give away.
fire steel n. a piece of steel used for striking fire; = steel n.1 8a. [Compare Middle Dutch vuurstael (Dutch vuurstaal ), Middle Low German vǖrstāl , Middle High German viurstahel (German Feuerstahl ); compare earlier fire iron n.]
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > flint or steel
flinta700
firestoneeOE
pyritesOE
steelc1220
fire ironc1300
pyrite stonec1475
fire striker1483
furisonc1540
fusil1580
fire steel1585
flintstone1585
tindern iron1586
marcasite1682
briquet1823
fleerish1825
strike-a-light1870
1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 244 Igniarium..a fire-steele wherewith to strike fire out of a flint.
1795 W. Tomison 11 Dec. in Sask. Jrnls. in Publ. Hudson's Bay Rec. Soc. (1967) 26 21 The smith and one man making fire-steels.
2008 Plains Anthropologist 53 571/1 Objects have been found of both French and Spanish manufacture, including a French fire steel.
fire-step n. Military (now chiefly historical) a step or ledge in a trench on which soldiers stand when firing; = firing step n. at firing n. Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > earthwork or rampart > [noun] > parapet > firing platform
foot bench?1575
foot bank1618
banquette1629
step1672
tread1834
firing step1899
fire-step1915
1915 Manch. Guardian 18 Oct. 9/2 They were even anxious for a place on the fire step so as to get an early start.
1954 W. Faulkner Fable (1955) 54 Two British privates were resting on the firestep of a frontline trench.
2014 Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Nexis) 20 May He climbed on the fire-step and he was through the wire and those that were alive he bound their wounds the best he could.
fire stick n. (a) a burning brand; (b) = fire drill n. (b); (c) a long implement used for stirring a fire; a poker.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > torch or brand
fire stickc1300
firebrandc1330
fire-blazea1500
firing?c1500
stick of firec1510
lunt1550
tede1562
fire-link1579
fire cane1644
brand1810
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > mechanical device
fire stickc1300
flint-mill1757
fire piston1846
gas poker1855
gas lighter1856
fire drill1861
fire-churn1863
lighter1875
hand drill1891
fire-plough1893
electric wand1898
wax jack1937
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > a fire > [noun] > fire-brand
brandc950
fire stickc1300
firebrandc1330
stick of firec1510
fire-link1579
fire cane1644
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for heating buildings, rooms, etc. > hearth or fireplace > poker
purr1357
fire-purra1451
fire pike1483
poker1534
fire-pote1638
pote1638
proker1742
fire point1789
teaser1839
kennedy1864
curate1878
tickler1881
fire stick1896
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 966 Was it nouth worth a fir sticke.
a1576 R. Eden tr. L. de Varthema Nauigation & Voy. v. xvii, in R. Willes & R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Hist. Trauayle W. & E. Indies (1577) f. 394v Apparelled lyke the deuyll..carying fyre stickes in theyr mouthes and handes.
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xi. 181 The babe, who thinkes his Nurce does him wrong..when sometymes she plucks a firesticke from him.
1608 J. Smith True Relation Occurr. Virginia sig. Dv I was with a fire stick lighted to my lodging.
a1628 F. Fletcher Second Voiage in Mariner's Mirror (1923) 9 199 Their fier stickes they strike fier with by drilling.
1794 E. Darwin Zoonomia I. 24 If a fire-stick be whirled round in the dark.
1865 E. B. Tylor Res. Early Hist. Mankind ix. 238 For many years, flint and steel could not drive it [sc. the fire-drill] out of use among the natives, who went on carrying every man his fire-sticks.
1896 J. C. Harris Sister Jane 100 Sister Jane, armed with a fire-stick (a heavy piece of metal weighing four or five pounds)..was..making an effort to get to the door.
1902 Rep. Smithsonian Inst. 180 In the same plate are included a pair of wooden fire sticks or tongs [of the Tulare Indians].
1989 Sun (Brisbane) 3 Feb. 13/5 Cardwell ranger station is celebrating the return of ancient Aboriginal firesticks, stolen a year ago.
2000 M. Kneale Eng. Passengers (2001) vi. 155 Next I went over to the small firestick that was all the fire Mother let us have now.
2011 M. Kelly Finding Poland i. 13 That fire stick might, in some unconscious way, have been related to my favourite object in that house: my great-grandfather Rafal's army truncheon.
fire stink n. Mining hydrogen sulphide produced by the decomposition of iron pyrites or other sulphide minerals; cf. firedamp n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fetor > [noun] > fetid smells > other spec.
nidora1620
mephitis1625
nidorosity1696
reek1729
fire stink1844
1844 M. Dunn Hist. Geol. & Descriptive View of Coal Trade 100 Between each of these workings is left a rib of coal, and the goaves or workings are then dammed up to prevent ‘fire stink’.
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining Sweet, free from fire-damp or other gases, or from fire-stink.
1986 V. S. Vutukuri & R. D. Lama Environmental Engin. in Mines ix. 292 The development of heating underground is accompanied by the progressive appearance of..fire stink with a characteristic smell.
firestop n. (a) a low wall at the back of a furnace to prevent fuel from being pushed off the grate; = fire bridge n. (now rare); (b) a device or material designed to stop the spread of fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > quality of being incombustible > [noun] > making fire-proof > obstacle to spread of fire
firestop1806
1806 Med. Repository 2nd Hexade 4 224 Improvement called a fire-stop.
1850 R. Armstrong Rudimentary Treat. Steam Boilers iv. 96 The name of ‘stop’, or ‘fire stop’, that is commonly given to this bridge, from the supposition that its only use could be to prevent the stoker from pushing coals over the end of the fire grate.
1882 Cent. Mag. July 472/2 A second fire-stop may be procured by using coarse mortar and chips on top of the bridging all around the building.
1920 Jrnl. Inst. Brewing Feb. 109 The installation of a movable fire-bridge or fire-stop on the grate.
1926 C. E. Mulford Cassidy's Protégé iv. 41 The farms he had dreamed of were now no more than memories, their boundary furrows and fire-stops rank with triumphant bunchgrass.
2014 Norwalk (Ohio) Reflector (Nexis) 25 Mar. There has to be firestops between the buildings. If there is one hole, like around a gas line or a sewer line, the fire can spread.
fire stream n. a stream of fire or burning fluid; a lava flow.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > ejected volcanic material > [noun] > lava
fire stream1657
lava1760
fireflood1821
coulée1839
fire fountain1852
lava flow1866
1657 R. Purnell Little Cabinet Richly Stored 421 A fire stream came forth from before him, thousands ministred unto him. Dan. 7. 10.
1811 W. J. Hooker Jrnl. Tour Iceland (1813) II. 142 The fire-stream over-ran the southern district.
1931 Bull. National Res. Council (Washington) Feb. i. 10 Lava surges up from the conduit source and forms a clearly defined fire-stream.
1931 Pop. Aviation Mar. 46/1 The tail assembly and the rear of the fuselage ride hight and above the fire stream of the rocket.
2008 J. Dickie Delizia ix. 148 The cone [of Vesuvius] smoldering in the sunshine above the blue curve of the bay; hellish fire streams glowing by night.
2012 FloriDUH (Nexis) 7 Feb. A student..is accused of taking a can of Old Spice body spray and lighting the spray stream on fire. The student then allegedly aimed the fire stream at another student in a restroom.
fire striker n. an implement for striking a spark to light a fire.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > flint or steel
flinta700
firestoneeOE
pyritesOE
steelc1220
fire ironc1300
pyrite stonec1475
fire striker1483
furisonc1540
fusil1580
fire steel1585
flintstone1585
tindern iron1586
marcasite1682
briquet1823
fleerish1825
strike-a-light1870
1483 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 132 A Fire stryker, fugillator.
1856 J. P. Beckwourth Life & Adventures xxvii. 379 I had my Indian fire-striker, and, amid all the wind and rain, I repeatedly lit my pipe.
1975 Asian Perspectives Jan. 163 Related artifacts are very few, including rhinoceros teeth and a quartz crystal fire-striker.
2014 L. Y. Stimpson Red Feather x. 76 Eliza had packed the fire striker and flint, knowing there was nothing in the swamp to help start a fire.
fire support n. Military gunfire cover provided for ground or naval forces in a military operation by their own artillery or air support.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities in the air > [noun] > air protection of military operation
fire support1896
air cover1941
society > armed hostility > military operations > distribution of troops > [noun] > supporting
support1749
fire support1896
air support1917
1896 Athenæum 29 Aug. 281/2 Some officers are of opinion that a battery of machine guns attached to cavalry would afford all the fire support that is needed.
1967 Time 12 May 88/3 Decked out with bolt-on guns and rocket launchers, the shaking, rattling and rolling choppers are less than perfect for close-in fire support.
2003 A. Swofford Jarhead 194 The battalion refuses to supply fire support for our mission. No air, no arty, no mortars, not even a goddamn .50-caliber machine gun sitting on a ridge.
† fire-swab n. Obsolete a bunch of rope or fabric saturated with water and used on a pole to cool and wipe a gun after firing, or to douse a house fire.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > equipment for use with firearms > [noun] > instrument for cleaning bore
moppet1512
scouring-stick1577
scourer1591
spongea1625
scouring-rod1697
sponge-staff1772
gun-brush1799
fire-swab1813
wiping-stick1817
wiper1826
washing-rod1850
sponge cloth1862
swab1863
wiping-rod1875
1813 A. C. Twent Zeemans Woordenboek Brand-zwabber, Faubert d'incendie.—Fire-swab.
1886 E. M. Bacon Dict. Boston 150/1 ‘Fire-swabs’ were used,—swabs attached to poles twelve feet long, with which water was splashed upon the burning sides and roofs of the wooden houses.
fire-swallower n. †(a) U.S. (before the American Civil War) an extreme southern partisan advocating secession from the Union; = fire-eater n. 2b (obsolete rare); (b) a performer who swallows, or appears to swallow, flames or burning material; = fire-eater n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > legerdemain, etc. > [noun] > juggler or conjurer > types of
knife-warper?c1225
saccularian1652
fire-eater1676
fire king1796
juggler1807
stone-eater1820
sword-swallower1826
fire-swallower1857
salamander1859
jadoo-wallah1890
knife-thrower1905
gully-gully man1930
1857 Weekly Raleigh (N. Carolina) Reg. 4 Mar. The self-appointed champions of Southern Rights, the fire-chawers and fire-swallowers, the Jeff. Davises, and all that herd of State Rights cattle.
1874 Daily News 5 June The street rope-tiers and fire-swallowers, the jugglers and stone-breakers, are subject to the inevitable law of ‘move on’.
1924 A. Huxley Little Mexican 57 Fat women, fire-swallowers, elastic men.
2001 C. Benard Turning on Girls 165 We have the Renaissance Room... Medieval dress, jugglers, fire-swallowers, and of course your waitpersons, in tights.
† fire-swart adj. Obsolete rare (a) fiery-black (with smoke); (b) blackened by fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > black or blackness > making or becoming black > [adjective] > blackened > with smoke or fire
fire-swartOE
charred1794
OE Crist III 984 Þonne wihta gehwylce, deora ond fugla, deaðleg nimeð, færeð æfter foldan fyrswearta leg, weallende wiga.
a1836 W. Taylor in R. Southey Common-place Bk. (1851) 4th Ser. 93/2 Thy shatter'd fire-swart hall.
fire-swept adj. (a) that is swept or destroyed by fire, esp. a wildfire; (b) that is swept by gunfire, artillery fire, etc. (cf. sweep v. 22b).
ΚΠ
1836 Morning Post 4 Feb. Parch'd with thirst, upon the fire-swept plain, Sigh'd for St. Pancras' water-carts in vain.
1858 Fraser's Mag. Nov. 552 My heart tightened to think of..what must surely happen on that fire-swept glacis, unless he bore indeed a life charmed with immunity from shot and steel.
1898 G. B. Shaw Man of Destiny in Plays Pleasant & Unpleasant ii. 155 Napoleon Bonaparte..rushed the fireswept bridge.
1930 E. Blunden Poems 40 The naked fire-swept windows.
2005 C. Mann 1491 i. ii. 38 Fire-swept stands of pitch pine.
2013 D. Camp Assault from Sky xii. 173 He courageously remained in the fire-swept area and calmly directed the fire of his gunners.
fire sword n. (a) a flaming sword (flaming sword at flaming adj. 1a); †(b) a type of firework, either for military purposes or for display (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > firework > [noun] > types of
fire sword1482
firedrake1608
fiend1634
fire club1634
fire lance1634
fire-target1634
saucisson1634
fire-trunk1639
runner1647
fire pole1708
fire fountain1729
fire-flyer1740
line-rocket1740
devil1742
fire tree1749
Grecian fire1774
jet1774
fire pan1799
metamorphose1818
Saxon1839
lightning paper1866
asteroid1875
brilliant1875
pearl1884
1482 W. Caxton tr. Higden's Prolicionycion iv. x. f. clxxxxvijv The lykenesse of a fyre swerde [c1400 Tiber. fuyry swerd, ?a1475 Harl. 2261 swerde of fyre; L. gladii ignei] was seen honge in the air aboue the temple.
1564 T. Becon Demandes Holy Script. f. ccccliv, in Wks. III The worde of God hath sundry names in Scripture: As the sword of the spirit, a two edged sworde, a fyre sword.
1634 J. Bate Myst. Nature & Art ii. 88 How to make a fire sword.
1854 T. H. Stockton Serm. for People (ed. 5) xii. 267 As though..the golden terrace over the folded gate had never flashed with the fire-swords of the cherubim.
2000 Maximum PC Oct. 84/3 Everything from the flames dripping off Julie's fire sword to the blood gushing out of the necks of beheaded corpses looks incredibly realistic.
fire syringe n. = fire piston n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > internal-combustion engine > [noun] > parts of > starters
fire syringe1822
starting handle1836
magneto1882
self-starter1884
plug1886
gas starter1898
ignition plug1900
sparking plug1902
spark plug1903
dual ignition1909
impulse coupling1916
impulse starter1916
kick-starter1916
mag1918
cut-in1921
cartridge starter1922
recoil starter1931
glow plug1947
ignition1961
1822 A. Eaton Chem. Instructor 43 Put a piece of tinder in the end of the piston of the fire syringe.
2005 J. A. Bell Chemistry vii. 511/1 The diagram shows a glass demonstration version of a fire syringe.
† fire-target n. Obsolete rare a type of firework, either for military purposes or for display.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > firework > [noun] > types of
fire sword1482
firedrake1608
fiend1634
fire club1634
fire lance1634
fire-target1634
saucisson1634
fire-trunk1639
runner1647
fire pole1708
fire fountain1729
fire-flyer1740
line-rocket1740
devil1742
fire tree1749
Grecian fire1774
jet1774
fire pan1799
metamorphose1818
Saxon1839
lightning paper1866
asteroid1875
brilliant1875
pearl1884
1634 J. Bate Myst. Nature & Art ii. 94 How to make a Fire-target.
fire team n. (a) a team of firefighters; a fire crew; (b) Army a small unit of infantry, typically comprising four soldiers.
ΚΠ
1872 Georgia Weekly Tel. 4 June We believe they claim to have the best fire team in Georgia.
1944 Joplin (Missouri) Globe 30 June a7/5 The new unit is headed by a sergeant as squad leader and each of its three four-man fire teams is equipped with..a demolitions kit.
1995 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 27 Mar. 6 Fire teams found the building blazing.
2010 S. Junger War i. i. 19 A squad is generally eight men plus a squad leader, and those eight men are divided into two fire teams designated ‘alpha’ and ‘bravo’.
† fire-teaser n. Obsolete a person employed to stoke a furnace; cf. teaser n.2 a.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > sailors involved in specific duties or activities > [noun] > stoker
fire-teaser1803
stoker1846
fire-trimmer1850
1803 Newcastle Courant 29 Oct. 1/2 William Brown, bound Servant as a Fire-Teazer to the Newcastle Broad and Crown Glass Company.
1843 J. S. Mill Syst. Logic I. i. iv. § i. 105 The fire-teazer of a modern steam-engine.
1867 Leeds Mercury 26 Apr. 3/2 William Duncan, fire-teazer, of Sunderland.
fire telegraph n. now historical (a) a series of flaming beacons for transmitting a message; (b) (chiefly U.S.) a telegraph used to raise a fire alarm.
ΚΠ
1798 Oracle 14 June When the Ancient Britons were in former times attacked in their fortresses, they used these fire Telegraphs for the same purposes of speedy communication with each other.
1851 Boston Daily Atlas 12 Nov. Quite a number of persons were more or less injured by a wire of the new fire telegraph, which was stretched across Broadway..and by some means became loosened and fell.
1867 J. Mackenzie Hist. Scotl. lxx. 550 On every tower and hill stands a beacon-pole... This is our fire-telegraph, whose glare shall flash over all Scotland the tidings of the enemy's approach.
1944 Salt Lake Tribune 31 Aug. 8/2 I knew that he was not sending a message anywhere, because that isn't the way the fire telegraph works.
2002 A. Selvarajan et al. Optical Fiber Communication i. 1 Aegisthus received news of the fall of Troy via the fire telegraph—through a system of beacons which brought the signal from Turkey.
2011 B. Hensler Crucible of Fire xx. 196 The fire telegraph, the steam fire engine, and pressurized water systems were great and remarkable inventions.
fire tile n. a tile of refractory material able to withstand great heat.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > clay compositions > baked clay > tile > [noun] > other types of tiles
semi-tilea1525
quarrel1601
head1703
travers tile1703
astragal1725
fire tile1798
sole1843
field tile1856
fish-scale tile1881
quarry tile1908
hollow tile1914
tile-and-a-half tile1940
1798 Mem. Literary & Philos. Soc. Manch. 5 14 The pots are made of fire-tiles, or fire-stone.
1854 E. Ronalds & T. Richardson Knapp's Chem. Technol. (ed. 2) I. 348 The under-surface of the cylinder being protected by fire tiles from the direct and too powerful action of the fire.
2004 PSA Schedule of Rates for Building Wks. (Stationary Office) 379 Removing burnt out set of firelumps, firebacks, fire tiles or bricks.
fire tornado n. a body of superheated air, ash, and other debris rotating rapidly around a glowing, fiery core, typically resembling a narrow whirlwind or tornado in shape, produced by wind turbulence above a mass of burning material.
ΚΠ
1871 Evening Jrnl. (Indianapolis) 16 Oct. 1/2 The fire tornado was heard at a distance like the roaring of the sea.
1977 Newsweek (Nexis) 8 Aug. 25 Hot air from the fire itself generated even more wind, creating a kind of fire tornado.
2012 S. Spangler Fire Bubbles & Exploding Toothpaste 131 Some of the largest fire tornadoes have measured more than a kilometer in height.
fire tower n. (a) a tower with a beacon on top, used as a lighthouse (now historical); (b) a watchtower used to look out for outbreaks of fire.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > buoys, marks, or lighthouses > [noun] > object on land or sea as guide > light beacon or lighthouse
fire towereOE
lightc1425
firehouse1450
pharec1450
pharos1550
light tower1588
lantern1601
watchtower1601
lighthouse1606
lowlight1655
sea-light1691
obeliscolychny1694
light1791
leading light1796
cage1867
flare1883
fanal-
eOE2Fyrtor [see sense A. 3a].
1612 W. J. Blaeu Light of Navigation xix. 109 The markes to sayle into this River are these: there are two fire towres which stand on the north side of the haven.
1795 J. Malham Naval Gazetteer I. 147/2 On the point is a fire-tower or light-house; and to the westward of it a fair strand.
1827 G. Higgins Celtic Druids Pref. 46 They have of late obtained the names in general of fire towers.
1835 D. Porter Constantinople & Environs II. xxiv. 62 A square wooden tower attached to this palace called the Yanguer Kiosk or fire tower..formerly kept a guard to give the alarm of fire to the public.
1956 WPA Guide to Florida (ed. 8) iii. 432 Sand roads lead to three steel and seven wooden fire towers.
1988 Archaeol. Ireland 2 11/1 The Tower of Hook, built..in the early thirteenth century as a fire tower and landmark, continues to fulfil the same function as it still serves as a base for a modern lighthouse.
2011 Toronto Star (Nexis) 6 Feb. in7 The twitchy boredom and solitude of a job as a lookout in a fire tower in the middle of nowhere.
fire trace n. a section of cleared land, or a naturally occurring barrier, that helps prevent the spread of fire; = firebreak n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > reclamation > [noun] > clearing land > for specific purpose
firebreak1820
fire line1853
fireguard1874
fire trace1891
1891 W. Schlich Man. Forestry II. iii. 192 Protection is afforded by removing all inflammable matter, or clearing fire-traces around the area.
1937 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 17 Sept. 1/4 The setting of fires to trash..shall be permitted provided that..a fire trace 25 feet wide is cleared around the area.
2008 Ambio 37 532/2 Fires are mainly extinguished directly by hand, aided with indirect techniques such as backfiring and the use of fire traces.
fire trade n. a trade using or involving fire.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > workers with specific materials > metalworker > [noun] > forger or smith > collectively
fire trade1624
1624 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 2) Democritus to Rdr. 51 Fire-trades, as Smyths, forge-men,..&c.
1907 Irish Times 26 Jan. 9 The National [Assurance] Company gave as a consideration a year's premium on the gross amount of the fire trade.
1999 Lockhart (Texas) Post-Reg. 9 Dec. 1/3 The fire jackets, the helmets, the hoses and various tools of the fire trade are stashed out of sight.
2008 Americas 65 194 The saint's patronage to the iron and fire trades.
fire trail n. chiefly North American and Australian a strip of land cleared of flammable material, and intended to act as a fire break; (also) a permanent track cleared to allow firefighters to reach remote areas of forest, grassland, etc.A permanent fire trail, or sections of it, may be intended to fulfil both purposes; cf. fire road n.
ΚΠ
1880 Western Champion (Blackall, Qld.) 10 Jan. 2/1 A fire trail was run round the paddock where it was likely to come, and which effectually kept it at a respectful distance.
1903 N.Y. Times 15 Feb. 28/7 Another thing needed in the Adirondack Park is a good fire patrol, telephone, and fire trails, over which one may ride on horseback.
1945 Economist 13 Jan. 46/2 Fire trails criss-cross the area along which fire-fighting equipment can be driven.
1971 G. Snyder Let. 17 Sept. in A. Ginsberg & G. Snyder Sel. Lett. (2009) 135 We had a forest fire nearby... We stood..in the path of the fire with our shovels..digging fire-trails til the heat would actually make us flee.
2007 D. Williams Angel Rock xiv. 150 The state forest..was crisscrossed with roads and logging tracks and fire trails... He followed fire trails where the land was burnt and blackened on one side and full of life on the other.
firetrap n. a place which is very likely to catch fire, or offers insufficient means of escape in the event of a fire, or both.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > [noun] > instance or cause of > dangerous place > in case of fire
firetrap1836
1836 N.Y. Spectator 8 Feb. We have had too many ‘fire traps’, and it is high time that a stop should be put to the careless manner in which many buildings have been erected in this city.
1961 L. Mumford City in Hist. xv. 465 Vast wooden firetraps called three-deckers in New England.
2000 N.Y. Times Mag. 24 Sept. 70/2 Sweatshop..managers..house workers in firetraps.
fire trench n. Military a deep and narrow trench from which soldiers can fire.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > earthwork or rampart > [noun] > trench > types of trench
transverse1704
front trench1847
communicating trench1857
shelter-trench1870
firing bay1885
communication trench1903
fire trench1907
funk-hole1914
support trench1914
foxhole1915
fire bay1916
slit-trench1942
1907 Times 12 July 12/2 The skilful construction of modern fire trenches and field works and the various means taken for concealment from that position.
1916 ‘B. Cable’ Action Front 103 The deep ditch with a narrow platform along its front that was the forward fire trench.
2014 Hindustan Times (Nexis) 4 July Under cover of darkness..fire trenches would be extended and ammunition and trench stores carried up from the rear.
fire-trimmer n. now historical and rare a person employed to tend the boiler of a steamship; a stoker.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > sailors involved in specific duties or activities > [noun] > stoker
fire-teaser1803
stoker1846
fire-trimmer1850
1850 Morning Chron. 1 Feb. There are generally two fire-trimmers, who relieve each other night and day.
1891 Daily News 26 Sept. 2/5 Prisoner and Jensen joined the ship..as fire-trimmers.
1914 Times 24 Jan. 7/6 Fire-trimmers of the Leyland liner Devonian.
1986 A. Coles Slaughter at Sea ii. 22 There was a permanent griminess about them which branded them as stokers, or fire-trimmers, as they preferred to be called.
fire truck n. chiefly North American any of various vehicles for carrying firefighters and their equipment to the site of a fire; a fire engine.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > a substance or apparatus for extinguishing > fire-engine
fire engine1626
engine1645
water engine1667
machine1848
fire truck1855
forcing-engine1855
tub1864
appliance1865
1855 N.-Y. Daily Times 11 June 1/4 On the left side, the coat of arms of the National Guard,..and on the right a miniature of fire truck No. 1.
1912 Times 20 Apr. 24/1 The first automobile fire truck will soon be in service.
2005 J. Diamond Collapse (2006) i. 44 Firefighters became much more successful.., thanks to the availability of..an expanded road system for sending in fire trucks.
† fire-trunk n. Obsolete (a) an incendiary projectile for hurling at an enemy, consisting of a container filled with explosive powder and a burning wick (cf. trunk n. 11); (b) Nautical a shaft on a fireship (fireship n.) to guide flames upwards to the decks and the rigging (cf. trunk n. 10).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > firework > [noun] > types of
fire sword1482
firedrake1608
fiend1634
fire club1634
fire lance1634
fire-target1634
saucisson1634
fire-trunk1639
runner1647
fire pole1708
fire fountain1729
fire-flyer1740
line-rocket1740
devil1742
fire tree1749
Grecian fire1774
jet1774
fire pan1799
metamorphose1818
Saxon1839
lightning paper1866
asteroid1875
brilliant1875
pearl1884
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > [noun] > incendiary missile
fireballc1485
stopsel1489
firework1528
ball?a1549
firepot?a1549
bomb1588
powder pot1611
fire-trunk1639
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > other equipment of vessel > [noun] > duct for spreading flames on fireship
fire-trunk1780
1639 J. Cruso tr. Sieur Du Praissac Art of Warre 154 To make a fire trunk [Fr. une lance à feu]. Take a piece of light wood..bore it through..with a hole of an inch in diameter..; place at the one end an half pike... To charge the trunk, put a charge of beaten powder in the bottome [etc.].
1676 T. Binning Light to Art of Gunnery xxxvii. 169 Fire-Trunks..may be used in the same manner, or they may be heaved by a Mans hand.
1780 Falconer's Universal Dict. Marine (rev. ed.) Sausisson, the trough..which communicates the flame from the train to the fire-trunks or powder-barrels in a fire-ship.
1890 R. C. Leslie Old Sea Wings 325 Fire-trunks were wooden funnels placed under the shrouds of a fire-ship to carry the flames to the masts and rigging.
fire tube n. †(a) a tubular (part of a) firework or gun (obsolete); (b) a pipe or tube through which fire or flames pass; esp. each of a set of such tubes (formerly, a single tube) in a boiler for heating surrounding water (contrasted with water tube n. (a) at water n. Compounds 7).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for heating buildings, rooms, etc. > chimney > flue or shaft
tewelc1384
shaftc1450
tunnel1508
shankc1525
chimney-shank1552
flue1582
gullet1672
funnel1688
fire tube1729
vent1756
stalk1821
chimney neck1833
stovepipe1858
1729 G. Shelvocke, Jr. tr. K. Siemienowicz Great Art Artillery v. x. 333 We might by this last method very conveniently..describe an Helical or Spiral Line, round the last great Fire Tube [Fr. le tuyau] I gave you.
1795 T. Beddoes Considerations Factitious Airs ii. 6 The fire-tube.., when of equal contents with the Alembic, exposes a greater surface to the action of the fire.
1819 Q. Rev. Jan. 193 There is nothing..that bears any allusion to their knowledge of cannon before the invasion of Gengis-Khan, when (in the year 1219) mention is made of ho-pao, or fire-tubes, the present name of cannon.
1827 T. Tredgold Steam Engine iii. 139 The only thing that seems capable of being done to improve the present construction, is to make the boilers much longer..and the fire tube larger.
1903 Daily Chron. 7 Jan. 7/2 In the fire-tube or cylindrical boiler the fire and smoke went through the tubes.
2001 Model Engineer 186 124/1 In long boilered engines, the main restriction to gas flow is in the firetubes.
fire vessel n. (a) a receptacle for heating something over a fire; (also) a receptacle for holding or carrying burning fuel; cf. fire pan n. 1a, 2; (b) = fireship n. (now historical).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > war vessel > [noun] > fireship
fire vessela1382
palander1524
fire boata1615
fireship1626
mine shipc1643
machine-vessel1694
fire raft1759
catamaran1804
fire-coffer1804
fire-junk1822
volcano-ship1860
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > portable receptacle for burning fuel
fire paneOE
heartheOE
fire vessela1382
chafer1395
chimneyc1420
chafing-dish1483
coal pan1530
fire chauffer1558
brazeraine1623
brasero1652
brazier1690
firecage1770
fire-holder1789
fire basket1798
mangal1814
komfoor1841
rodney1848
Jack1849
chip pan1854
reredos1859
hibachi1863
scaldino1866
chafing-pan1867
salamander1873
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Exod. xxvii. 3 Toongis & hokis & fyre vessels [L. ignium receptacula].
1618 H. Ainsworth Annot. Third Bk. Moses, called Leuiticus (Lev. xvi. 12) sig. Sv/1 This Censer or Fyre-pan (as the word is Englished in Exod. 27.3) is called in Greek Pureion, that is a Fyre vessel.
1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre iv. 131 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian The Persians in the wooden Tower, kindled many Fire-vessels, by flinging the same thick, to burn the Engines and men in them, notwithstanding their long Poles.
1720 J. Burchett Compl. Hist. Trans. at Sea v. xii. 636 The French, who were..making all possible Dispatch at Dunkirk and Ostend, not only with their Ships of War, but Fire-Vessels, Pontoons, and all other Matters.
1792 J. Hailstone Plan Lect. Mineral. 31 Crucibles, and other Fire Vessels.
1870 W. H. G. Kingston Off to Sea vi. 103 On the banks were the wrecks of the still burning fire-vessels.
1953 R. Basak in K. W. Morgan Relig. of Hindus iii. 107 This sacred fig tree is mentioned in the Rigveda, and in the Vedic age its wood was used for fire vessels and for the drill for producing the sacred fire.
2009 Timber Home Living Dec. 17/2 Chimineas, fire vessels and full-fledged gas-burning fireplaces all fit the bill when it comes to enjoying your outdoor room year-round.
2014 S. S. Sheads Chesapeake Campaigns 1813–15 69 On his return passage down river, Gordon was harassed day and night by the shore batteries and by Rodgers' flotilla of barges and fire vessels.
fire walk n. a barefoot walk over a bed of hot coals, ashes, stones, etc., esp. as forming part of a religious rite; (also) the surface on which this walk is performed.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > other practices > [noun] > fire-walk
fire walk1893
1893 Jrnl. Polynesian Soc. 2 193 The fire-walk was fifteen feet long and six wide, and consisted of red hot coals and a shallow pool of water at one end.
1895 Folk-lore 6 248 Whatever else the Fire-Walk may be, it is a piece of folklore.
1901 Proc. Soc. Psychical Res. 1900–1 15 11 Colonel Haggard saw the fire-walk done in Tokio, on April 9th, 1899.
2010 Nottingham Post (Nexis) 2 Oct. 16 People are being asked to take part in a community fire walk to raise funds for children with cancer.
2010 E. Grace-Kelly et al. Ultimate Life Lessons 170 As I stood in front of the fire walk ready to step on the coals, the helpers..started stirring the coals around.
firewalker n. a person who practises fire walking; a person who undertakes a fire walk.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > other practices > [noun] > fire-walk > performing > person
firewalker1850
1850 Dublin Univ. Mag. Apr. 452/2 To return, however, to Feronia and the fire-walkers: a similar feat is mentioned by Strabo.
1938 Times Lit. Suppl. 1 Jan. 5/4 He is inclined to attribute the immunity of the fire-walkers to the power of faith.
2013 Chester Chron. (Nexis) 24 Jan. 57 All the money raised by our firewalkers will go towards research into preventing strokes.
fire walking n. the practice of walking barefoot over a bed of hot coals, ashes, stones, etc., esp. as part of religious rite; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > other practices > [adjective] > fire-walk
fire walking1857
society > faith > worship > other practices > [noun] > fire-walk > performing
fire walking1857
1857 Gentleman's Mag. Oct. 370/2 None stood confest, all eager to deny, And offering all to test our innocence By the hot bars, fire-walking, or by oath.
1904 Athenæum 13 Feb. 216/1 An interesting lecture on ‘The Fijians and their Fire-Walking’.
1963 Times 2 Mar. 10/6 A Chinese fire-walking ceremony.
2006 Working Mother Feb. 46 (table) This teen camp offers confidence-building activities from yoga to fire walking.
fireward n. now historical and rare = fire warden n. (a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > fire-brigade > chief of fire-brigade
firemaster1702
water engineer1711
fireward1714
fire warden1724
fire chief1847
fire marshal1854
1714 in Acts & Laws Massachusetts-Bay 218 Fire-wards..are fully Authorized and Impowred, to Command and Require Assistance for the Extinguishing and Putting out of the Fire.
1763 J. Adams Diary Feb. (1961) I. 238 Collectors, Wardens, Fire Wards, and Representatives are Regularly chosen.
1825 New-Eng. Galaxy & U.S. Literary Advertiser 15 Apr. 2 He..attempted to get elected Fireward.
1995 Archivist No. 108. 14/2 In Halifax, the Board of Firewards was established by a colonial act in 1788. Its responsibilities, among others, were ‘to nominate and license fit and proper persons to be Sweepers of Chimneys’.
fire warden n. (a) U.S. the chief officer of a fire brigade; (b) an official concerned with fire control or fire safety in a particular place.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > [noun] > one who watches or keeps guard > watcher against fire
fire-spy1676
fire warden1724
fire-watcher1830
towerman1895
fire ranger1897
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > fire-brigade > chief of fire-brigade
firemaster1702
water engineer1711
fireward1714
fire warden1724
fire chief1847
fire marshal1854
1724 New-Eng. Courant 10 Aug. 2/2 Leave first obtain'd from the Firewardens.
1817 Upper Canada Gaz. (York) 12 June 95/5 The said Fire Warden shall..carry about with him on occasion of Fires, a staff or some other visible distinguishing badge of office.
1875 Chicago Tribune 2 July 3/4 The seven Fire Wardens were..abolished.
1968 R. M. Patterson Finlay's River 41 Truly this butte was..well sited for the fire warden's lookout.
1998 I. Hunter Which? Guide to Employment xv. 247 Employers must supply training for all safety officers, first-aiders and fire wardens in the workforce.
2014 Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly (Nexis) 8 July The Fire Wardens manage the property of the district and oversee the operation of the fire station.
fire watch n. an act of keeping watch for outbreaks of fire; a person or group undertaking this duty.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > [noun] > as a watchman or sentinel > watch or guard against fire
fire watch1694
fireguard1790
fire watching1881
1694 Bp. J. Robinson Acct. Sueden ii. 27 There is also a Fire-Watch by Night.
1790 G. G. Stonestreet Refl. Frequency of Fires in Metropolis 16 A Fire Watch, or patrole of Engineers and Firemen, through every part of the metropolis, in all hours of the night, throughout the year.
1866 C. F. T. Young Fires 27 During the reign of Augustus, fires were so frequent in Rome that he established a fire watch to diminish their prevalence.
1940 Washington Post 24 Dec. 13 There will be watchful wardens at the doors and a fire watch on the roof all night.
2014 Safety Now Oct. Maintain a fire watch during the operation and frequently re-inspect the area for signs of delayed ignition.
firewatch v. intransitive to keep watch for outbreaks of fire, as a duty or responsibility.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > action or duty of sentry or picket > act as sentry or picket [verb (intransitive)] > fire-watch
firewatch1941
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > watch or keep guard [verb (intransitive)] > watch against fire
firewatch1941
1941 R. Greenwood Mr. Bunting at War xix. 269 I've got to fire-watch.
2002 M. McGrath Silvertown (2003) x. 107 The following day she walks down to the Town Hall and volunteers to firewatch.
fire-watcher n. (a) a person who tends or watches a fire; (b) a person with a duty or responsibility to keep watch for outbreaks of fire.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > others concerned with military affairs > [noun] > air-raid warden, fire-watcher, etc.
fire-watcher1830
street warden1835
air warden1933
air raid warden1936
warden1936
paraspotter1940
roof-spotter1940
roof-watcher1940
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > [noun] > one who watches or keeps guard > watcher against fire
fire-spy1676
fire warden1724
fire-watcher1830
towerman1895
fire ranger1897
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > [noun] > feeding or tending fire > one who tends a fire
fire beater1332
fire-watcher1830
1830 Polar Star 3 108/2 The fire-watcher had drooped his eyelids.
1910 W. de la Mare Three Mulla-mulgars xvi. 217 The fire-watcher raised his sad countenance.
1928 Boys' Life Aug. 17/3 As a fire-watcher, and assistant to the local Forest Ranger, Sandy was likewise a game protector and conservationist.
1944 Times 31 Jan. 2/3 In the cities and towns the Home Guard give a good deal of help in the Civil Defence services, as fire-watchers now.
1997 Calgary Herald (Nexis) 5 Oct. e6 Drape cozy woolen throws all around so that fire-watchers can snuggle beneath while telling ghost stories.
fire watching n. the action or duty of keeping a lookout for outbreaks of fire, esp. for fires caused by incendiary bombing.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > action or duty of sentry or picket > [noun] > fire-watching
fire watching1881
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > [noun] > as a watchman or sentinel > watch or guard against fire
fire watch1694
fireguard1790
fire watching1881
1881 Ohio Farmer 5 Nov. 300/2 Relieved from fire-fighting and fire-watching, the farmers have been able to finish their fall work.
1941 Manch. Guardian Weekly 10 Jan. 18 Everyone now realises the great importance of fire-watching and fire prevention.
1995 Methodist Recorder 3 Aug. 5/4 Coming back at 6am after a night's firewatching at the hospital..I found that house reduced to rubble.
2014 Hindustan Times (Nexis) 14 May Park authorities attributed the big drop in forest fires to maintaining a strict regime of fire watching and timely fire-line cutting.
fire waterwork n. rare (now historical) a kind of mechanism for raising water using fire or steam, proposed by Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester (1601–67).Cf. waterwork n. 1a, esp. quot. 1663 there.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > steam engine > [noun] > types of
fire waterwork1663
steam-wheel1797
Cornish engine1840
beam-engine1844
machine-whim1848
screw engine1852
donkey-engine1858
quadruple expansion1861
tandem engine1878
uniflow1971
1663 Marquis of Worcester Cent. Names & Scantlings Inventions Index A Fire Water-work.
2005 G. Wills Henry Adams & Making of Amer. ii. 128 The possibility of steam travel had been suggested by the Marquis of Worcester's ‘fire waterwork’.
fireweapon n. now rare (a) a firearm; (b) an incendiary projectile.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > [noun]
cane of fire1550
shota1578
fire1590
fire piece1592
fireweapon?1592
powder instrument1613
firearm1643
firegun1677
bulldog1700
nail driver1823
peacemaker1840
thunder stick1918
?1592 H. Barwick Breefe Disc. Weapons f. 2 What hath beene doone since the perfect knowledge of fire weapons hath been in vse?
1616 J. Bingham in tr. Ælian Tactiks ii. 25 The fire-weapons haue theire advantages.
1778 G. Costard Let. to N. B. Halhead 9 Fire-Weapons were thrown from the Walls.
1860 J. Hewitt Anc. Armour Suppl. 489 The analogous fire-weapons.
2006 A. Brown tr. J. Friedrich Fire 15 Without such a comprehensive extermination strategy [sc. fire raids], the fire weapon would have never had a chance to be tested, adjusted, and refined.
2013 Telegraph (India) (Nexis) 12 July The permit to wield a fireweapon.
fire well n. a pit or opening in the ground in which flames are formed by the burning of escaping natural gas.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > fire or flame > [noun] > flame or blaze > jet of carburetted hydrogen
fire well1669
1669 tr. A. Kircher Vulcano's ii. 8 The Mountain Hecla in Izland..: besides many others [sc. volcanoes] in each particular Country; at least Fire-wells, Pits, and Orifices.
1712 Atlas Geographus III. x. 775/2 They abound with natural Fire Wells, whose Mouths they close up to the Bigness of a Pot, over which they boil their Meat.
1879 A. Geikie in Encycl. Brit. X. 250/1 Emanations of carburetted hydrogen, which, when they take fire, are known as Fire-wells.
2008 H. Selin Encycl. Hist. Sci. (ed. 2) 964/1 Less productive fire wells..had also to be supported with firewood.
firewheel n. now rare a type of firework resembling a burning wheel; cf. Catherine wheel n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > firework > [noun] > rotating or Catherine wheel
firewheel1607
wheel1629
sun1741
sun wheel1749
Catherine wheel1761
pinwheel1765
spur-fire1765
cartwheel1840
1607 ‘W. S.’ Puritaine iv. sig. G3 Sirrah if wee could ha conuoide hether cleanly a cracker or a fire-wheele t'ad beene admirable.
1740 G. Smith tr. Laboratory (ed. 2) App. p. lii The fire wheels that are to be used on land, turn upon an iron pin or bolt, drawn or screwed into a post.
1853 Househ. Words 10 Sept. 46/2 The ascent of a sky-rocket, and the revolving of a fire wheel.
1994 J. Birmingham He died with Felafel in Hand (1997) vi. 125 The whole thing went up like a burning blue firewheel.
fire whirl n. = fire tornado n.
ΚΠ
1965 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 16 Aug. 9 d/1 No one knows why the fire whirls are now appearing in this state where tornadoes are almost unknown.
1992 N. Maclean Young Men & Fire i. i. 36 Soon a great ‘fire whirl’ is started and fills the air with burning cones and branches.
2007 Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.) 30 Oct. d10/2 Fire whirls are related to dust devils, vortices that roam the desert floor on some sunny, hot days.
fire wind n. a strong wind caused by a conflagration; cf. firestorm n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [noun] > strong or violent wind > following a conflagration
fire wind1836
firestorm1945
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > a fire > [noun] > a kind of fire > destructive > fire-storm started by bombing
fire wind1836
firestorm1945
1836 tr. J. H. Gray Umbreit's Bk. of Job I. iv. 97 (note) This strong picture of ruin recalls the desolating fire-winds [Ger. Gluthwind] which we found in ch. i. 16.
1946 Atomic Bombings Hiroshima & Nagasaki (Manhattan Engineer District, U.S. Army) 17 The wind velocity in the city had been less than 5 miles per hour before the bombing, but the fire-wind attained a velocity of 30–40 miles per hour.
2000 C. D. Whiteman Mountain Meteorol. xi. 202 The resulting fire winds, which blow toward the fire column, can be very strong.
firewoman n. a female firefighter (cf. fireman n. 4).In quot. 1868 with allusion to The Firemen's Insurance Company, a name used by a number of regional insurance companies in the United States in the 19th century. Cf. note at fire company n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > extinguishing fire > [noun] > fire-fighting > fireman > woman
firewoman1868
1868 A. R. W. Curtis & D. S. Curtis Spirit of Seventy-six i. 9 (Reads)... ‘Firewomen's Insurance Company.’ Pshaw! What a careless compositor!
1877 Fireman June 5/2 In America..a brigade of firewomen, or rather of firegirls, is..in course of organisation.
1964 Guardian 29 May 2/4 The Fire Brigades' Union executive today promised to examine firewomen's conditions of service.
2013 Manch. Evening News (Nexis) 13 Dec. 25 To say MPs should be treated any differently from nurses, doctors, firemen, firewomen and everybody else working in the public sector is just wrong.
† fire-wreath n. Obsolete rare a hoop made of brushwood or other flammable material, steeped in a flammable substance such as tar and set alight, for use as an incendiary; = fire-hoop n.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > naval weapons and equipment > [noun] > incendiary weapons or materials
fire pike1483
fire-hoop1585
fire-wreath1639
fire-crancel1667
fire chemise1728
fire-bavin1779
blanket1816
1639 J. Cruso tr. Sieur Du Praissac Art of Warre 93 Fire-balls, granadoes, fire-wreathes [Fr. cercles ardans], and fire-trunks.
1862 H. Marryat One Year in Sweden II. 346 (note) Fire-arrows shot from the bows, as well as fire-wreaths cast into the vessels of the enemy.
fire year n. a year marked by destructive fire.Originally with reference to the Great Fire of London.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the past > historical period > [noun] > specific centuries, decades, or years
fire year1673
quattrocento1854
the hungry forties1905
dix-huitième1920
roaring twenties1923
Dirty Thirties1931
1673 F. Kirkman Unlucky Citizen Pref. sig. A3v The next year 1666 being the Fire year.
1694 R. Coke Detection Court & State Eng. II. iv. ii. 161 I was then at London, and also in the Plague and Fire Years.
1929 Pop. Sci. Monthly Dec. 32/1 Because of nation-wide dry weather this has been the worst fire year since the disastrous western fires of 1910.
2005 J. Diamond Collapse (2006) i. 43 Forest fires..have recently increased in intensity and extent.., with the summers of 1988, 1996, 2000, 2002, and 2003 being especially severe fire years.
fire zone n. (a) an area swept by gunfire; (b) an area in which an uncontrolled or destructive fire is burning.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed encounter > battlefield > [noun] > front or front line > area subjected to gunfire or bombing
fire zone1873
beaten zone1918
bomb alley1942
1873 Daily News 2 Aug. 3/5 That all extensions should be performed before entering within the fire zone.
1898 Dundee Courier & Argus 21 Apr. 3/6 It was decided to..fence round the fire zone, the indraft of air [to the mine] partly stopped, and the current diverted to clear the return airways.
1923 R. Kipling Irish Guards in Great War I. 125 All four companies worked their way..out of the fire-zone.
1998 T. Marshall Price of Exit i. 18 They were carried out of the fire zone and medevacked.
2009 Wall St. Jrnl. 16 Sept. a24/4 Many are from federal ‘hotshot’ crews—firefighters dropped into the hottest and most dangerous fire zones.
b. In names of plants.
fire cherry n. U.S. the pin cherry, Prunus pensylvanica, the wild red cherry of North America.
ΚΠ
1893 Trans. Albany Inst. 89 The wild red cherry (Prunus Pennsylvanica) is locally known as bird cherry, pin cherry and fire cherry.
1930 Wilson Bull. 42 245 Where the timber has been lumbered out, dense thickets of fire cherry have occupied the spaces, so that the region offers a wide variety of conditions for the observer.
2014 O. L. McConnell Unicoi Unity viii. 147 Mountain Maples and Fire Cherries occur from the highest summits down to about 3,000 feet and 2,500 feet, respectively.
fire grass n. [in sense (a) with allusion to its use as a herbal remedy for erysipelas (St Anthony's fire)] (a) English regional parsley piert, Aphanes arvensis; (b) North American any of various grasses that spring up on burnt land, esp. Agrostis hyemalis; (c) a flame-coloured grass, esp. one of the genus Schizachyrium.
ΚΠ
1615 G. Markham Eng. Hus-wife in Countrey Contentments 25 For any scalding..take also yarrow, the greene of elder barke and fire grasse.
1821 T. Dwight Trav. New Eng. (1823) IV. 50 Immediately after the fires a species of grass springs up, sometimes called fire grass.
1883 J. Smith Domest. Bot. (new ed.) 408 In some places in England it is called ‘Fire Grass’, and is found to be highly beneficial in erysipelas.
1913 N. L. Britton & A. Brown Illustr. Flora Northern U.S. II. 264 Aphanes arvensis L. Parsley-Piert, or Field Lady's Mantle... Breakstone. Parsley-vlix. Parsley-breakstone. Firegrass. Bowel- hivegrass. Colicwort.
1920 F. E. Clements Process Indicators 93 The most typical fire-grass is Agrostis hiemalis.
1955 Queensland Agric. Jrnl. 80 50/2 Grasses appear in tufts at intervals and comprise white spear, love grasses and fire grass.
2012 L. Curtis et al. Queensland's Threatened Animals 296/1 The parrots feed on the fallen seeds of annual grasses, particularly Fire Grass Schizachyrium spp.
fire-leaves n. †(a) a plant of the southern United States (not identified) with yellow flowers and poisonous green berries (obsolete rare); (b) British regional a plantain, esp. the hoary plantain, Plantago media (now rare); †(c) British regional devil's bit scabious, Succisa pratensis (obsolete). [In senses (b) and (c) with allusion to the belief that these plants, being slow to dry, may induce fermentation causing spontaneous combustion in newly stored hay.]
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Plantaginaceae > [noun]
waybreadeOE
ribeOE
psylliumOE
waybread leafOE
plantaina1325
herb Ivec1386
ersworta1400
psyllya1425
flea-seed1562
buck's-horn plantain1578
fleabane1578
hartshorn1578
lamb's tongue1578
rose plantain1597
rose ribwort1597
globularia1728
fire-leaves1796
ribwort1846
hoary plantain1861
goatweed1864
hartshorn plantain-
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Dipsacaceae (teasel and allies) > [noun] > scabious or devil's bit
scabiousc1400
devil's-bit1526
fore-bit1597
forebitten more1597
gypsy flower1620
widow flower1789
fire-leaves1796
mourning bride1811
gypsy rose1830
mournful widow1846
starhead1852
1796 B. Hawkins Let. 21 Dec. (1916) 46 There is a plant in bloom called by the whites wolfs tongue or fire leaves.
1860 Gardeners' Chron. 11 Aug. 738 Fire-leaves. In Gloucestershire the name is given to the leaves of Plantains; and we have heard it in Herefordshire used for the Scabiosa succisa (Devil's bit).
1883 J. Smith Domest. Bot. (new ed.) 299 P[lantago] media..often causes haystacks to take fire, on which account it is called by the farmers fire leaves.
1932 Special Crops Jan. 63/1 P. media, found in Europe, is also known as Fire-weed, Fire-leaves, and Lamb's Lettuce.
fire lily n. (a) any of various lilies with orange or red flowers, esp. Lilium bulbiferum of southern Europe, which has bright orange flowers; (b) any of the bulbous perennial plants of the genus Cyrtanthus (family Amaryllidaceae) of central and southern Africa, which tend to produce their flowers (often red or orange) after bush fires.
ΚΠ
1802 A. F. M. Willich Domest. Encycl. IV. Index 466/1 L[ilium] bulbiferum. Fire Lily.
1864 L. Grout Zulu-land xx. 276 One of these which is known to the Dutch as the ‘fire-lily’, and so far as the brightness of its color is concerned, it well deserves its name.
1871 H. B. Stowe Sam Lawson 179 A tall straight fire-lily, black, spotted in its centre..rose like a jet of flame.
1913 Garden 22 Feb. 94/1 Whenever I have come across the glowing Fire Lily growing wild, never a bulbil has it given me to take away and grow.
1966 A. Batten & H. Bokelmann Wild Flowers Eastern Cape 28 Clivia miniata Regel (Fire Lily, Bush Lily).
2004 J. Manning Southern Afr. Wild Flowers 65 Half of the 50 species known from southern Africa occur in the Eastern Cape, including the Giant Fire Lily.
fire pink n. a North American pink, Silene virginica (family Caryophyllaceae), with bright red flowers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > campions and catchflies
rose campion1530
jagged pink1574
cuckoo-gilliflower1578
flower Constantinople1578
marsh gilliflower1578
wild William1578
crow-flower1597
gardener's delight1597
nonsuch1597
cuckoo-flower1629
fair maid of France1629
meadow pink1660
Bristol Non-such1668
flower of Bristol1672
knight-cross1725
ragged robin1731
fair maid of Kent1813
flower of Jove1840
mullein pink1840
fire pink1848
sticky catchfly1908
1848 A. Gray Man. Bot. Northern U.S. 58 Fire Pink. Catchfly..Open woods, from W. New York (Sartwell) westward and southward.
1882 Garden 6 May 307/2 The Fire Pink (Silene virginica).—The flowers of this Catchfly are unsurpassed as regards brilliancy by those of any other plant.
2007 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 5 Oct. f5 The air on this summer day thrummed with the hum of fat bumblebees, their legs heavy with pollen from orange mountain azalea, spiderwort, fire pink and white mountain laurel.
fireweed n. (a) any of various plants that grow readily on burnt land or clearings, esp. rosebay willowherb, Chamerion angustifolium, the thorn apple or burnweed, Datura stramonium, and a common herbaceous plant of the Americas, Erechtites hieracifolia (family Asteraceae); (b) a plantain; = fire-leaves n. (b) (rare).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > names applied to various plants > [noun]
heatha700
beeworteOE
leversc725
springworteOE
clotec1000
halswortc1000
sengreenc1000
bottle?a1200
bird's-tonguea1300
bloodworta1300
faverolea1300
vetchc1300
pimpernel1378
oniona1398
bird's nest?a1425
adder's grassc1450
cockheada1500
ambrosia1525
fleawort1548
son before the father1552
crow-toe1562
basil1578
bird's-foot1578
bloodroot1578
throatwort1578
phalangium1608
yew1653
chalcedon1664
dittany1676
bleeding heart1691
felon-wort1706
hedgehog1712
land caltrops1727
old man's beard1731
loosestrife1760
Solomon's seal1760
fireweed1764
desert rose1792
star of Bethlehem1793
hen and chickens1794
Aaron's beard1820
felon-grass1824
arrowroot1835
snake-root1856
firebush1858
tick-seed1860
bird's eye1863
burning bush1866
rat-tail1871
lamb's earsa1876
lamb's tongue plant1882
tar-weed1884
Tom Thumb1886
parrotbeak1890
stinkweed1932
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivation of plants or crops > crop or crops > [noun] > aftercrop > second growth or fire-growth
regrowth1741
fireweed1764
second growth1829
burnt feed1848
1764 J. Grainger Sugar-cane iv. 146 (note) The fire-weed, which grows every where..is the datura of Linnæus.
1792 J. Belknap Hist. New-Hampsh. III. 133 No other culture being necessary..but the cutting of the fire-weed.
1836 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Plants (rev. ed.) 706 Senecio hieracifolius..in North America, as S. vulgaris in Europe..is known by the name of the Fire-weed.
c1845 E. Jenner Flora Tunbridge Wells 8 Plantago... lanceolata... Lamb's Tongue, Ribwort, Fire Weed.
1861 A. Pratt Flowering Plants & Ferns Great Brit. II. 104 In Virginia, the Thorn-Apple is called Fireweed.
a1862 H. D. Thoreau Maine Woods (1864) iii. 262 There were great fields of fire-weed (Epilobium angustifolium) on all sides.
1892 R. Kipling in Times (Weekly ed.) 24 Nov. 13/3 The fire-weed glows in the centre of the driveways.
1927 W. Cather Death comes for Archbishop v. ii. 167 Evening primroses, the fireweed, and butterfly weed grew to a tropical size and brilliance there among the sedges.
1932 Special Crops Jan. 63/1 P. media, found in Europe, is also known as Fire-weed, Fire-leaves, and Lamb's Lettuce.
1969 Standard Common Names Weeds N.Z. 3 Australian fireweed... Erechtites atkinsoniae.
2007 Alaska Sept. 72/1 The approaching change in season was betrayed only by the fireweed beginning to turn.
c. In the names of animals (esp. birds and insects).
fire ant n. any of several ants, esp. of the genus Solenopsis, which have a severe sting; esp. (more fully red imported fire ant) S. invicta of South America, which has become a serious pest in the southern United States, Australia, and parts of Asia.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Hymenoptera > [noun] > suborder Apocrita, Petiolata, or Heterophaga > group Aculeata (stinging) > ant > member of genus Solenopsis (thief-ant)
fire ant1796
thief-ant1904
1796 J. G. Stedman Narr. Exped. Surinam II. xx. 91 Small emmets, called here fire-ants, from their painful biting.
1863 H. W. Bates Naturalist on River Amazons II. ii. 81 Fire-ants (formiga de fogo) under the floors.
1965 R. McKie Company of Animals i. 5 The slender black swarming bodies of fire ants (the semut api of the Malays).
2000 New Scientist 30 Sept. 50/2 This makes Solenopsis invicta , the red imported fire ant, otherwise known as RIFA, the deadliest invasive insect in the US.
fire beetle n. a firefly; spec. a click beetle of the genus Pyrophorus, of the warmer parts of the Americas and the Caribbean, esp. the widespread P. noctilucus (cf. cucuy n.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Coleoptera or beetles and weevils > [noun] > Polyphaga (omnivorous) > superfamily Diversicornia > family Elateridae > elaterid fire-fly
fireworm1567
cucuy1605
salamander-fly1668
lightning bug1778
firebug1789
glow-fly1789
fire beetle1826
lightning beetle1854
meadow-fly1867
pyrophore1884
1826 First of May in R. P. Gillies German Stories III. 46 It was already dark night, and fire-beetles hovered round them with their silent green light.
1842 T. W. Harris Treat. Insects New Eng. 49 Elater (Pyrophorus) noctilucus, the night-shining Elater, is the celebrated cucuio or fire-beetle of the West Indies.
1954 F. C. Lane All about Insect World 112 A number of rather small ‘fire beetles’ are fairly common in this country. But there is a much larger species in the tropics.
1998 BioScience 48 3 (heading) Unique sense organs allow fire beetles to locate their hot breeding grounds.
firebrat n. a cosmopolitan bristletail, Thermobia domestica (order Thysanura), related to the silverfish and frequently found in warm places inside buildings.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > subclass Apterygota or Ametabola > [noun] > order Thysanura > machilis maritina (bristle tail) > thermobia domestica (fire-brat)
firebrat1891
1891 C. L. Marlatt in U.S. Dept. Agric. Entomol. Circular No. 49. 3 The habit of this species of congregating in bake-houses..has given rise to the common appellation for it in England of ‘fire-brat’.
1955 Sci. News Let. 22 Jan. 62/3 The firebrat..preferring to live in the vicinity of a fireplace, furnace or other hot spot.
2001 G. C. McGavin Essent. Entomol. 68 The firebrat, Thermobia domestica, can be found living in the warm conditions of kitchens and bakeries.
fire coral n. any of several yellow or brown colonial hydrozoans of the genus Millepora (family Milleporidae; cf. millepore n.), having a calcified skeleton that resembles coral and capable of inflicting painful stings. [Apparently so called in allusion either to the flame-like shape and bright yellow colour of some colonies, or to their capacity to sting. Compare Arabic šaʿb al-nār , lit. ‘tribe of the fire’, denoting corals of the genus Millepora (inaccurately cited as a generic term for bushy corals in P. Forsskål Descriptio animalium(1775) p. xxviii, the source referred to in quot. 1941).]
ΚΠ
1941 Spolia Zoologica Musei Hauniensis 1 12 This [identification] is not correct, the name, meaning ‘Fire coral’, being given to Millepora, which stings like a nettle if it touches tender skin, like that of the inner side of the arm.]
1952 J. Cleugh tr. H. Hass Under Red Sea 208 Fire-coral: Millepora species.
1953 J. Cousteau Silent World xi. 115 Two important living enemies of undersea man are fire coral and sea poison ivy, which inflict burns that may last for days.
2009 D. Fenner in C. R. C. Sheppard et al. Biol. Coral Reefs ii. 35 Fire corals..reproduce by producing tiny medusae which are released from blisters and which in turn release the gametes.
firecrest n. a very small Eurasian kinglet, Regulus ignicapilla (family Regulidae), resembling the goldcrest but more brightly coloured on the head. [ < fire n. + crest n.1, after goldcrest n., and probably also after scientific Latin ignicapillus, ignicapilla, specific name of the firecrest (attributed to C. L. Brehm by C. J. Temminck Man. d'Ornithol. (1820) 231; also recorded in a letter by Brehm dated 14th June 1820).]
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > subfamily Sylviidae (warbler) > [noun] > genus Regulus > regulus ignicapillus (fire-crest)
firecrest1834
fire-crested wren1835
regulus1851
1834 F. O. Morris Guide Arrangem. Brit. Birds 19 (table) Regulus ignicapillus. Fire Crest.
1843 J. D. Hoy in W. Yarrell Hist. Brit. Birds I. 324 By the early part of November you will rarely find the Fire Crest.
1955 R. T. Peterson & J. Fisher Wild Amer. (1997) i. 11 We picked up the tiny golden-crowned kinglet,..somewhere between our goldcrest and firecrest.
2009 Daily Tel. 6 Apr. 11/8 Mediterranean gulls, firecrests and Cetti's warblers all enjoyed their best year on record.
fire-crested wren n. now rare = firecrest n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > subfamily Sylviidae (warbler) > [noun] > genus Regulus > regulus ignicapillus (fire-crest)
firecrest1834
fire-crested wren1835
regulus1851
1835 L. Jenyns Man. Brit. Vertebr. Animals 114 Fire-crested Wren..Entire length four inches.
1946 J. W. Day Harvest Adventure xiii. 212 In the wood tiny firecrested wrens flitted like quick jewels.
fire cricket n. rare a cricket found in warm places: (in early use perhaps) the house cricket, Acheta domestica; (in recent use) a small cricket found in South-East Asia.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > subclass Pterygota > [noun] > division Exopterygota or Hemimetabola > order Orthoptera > family Gryllidae > member of (cricket)
cricketa1325
fire cricket1510
grylle1555
wood-cricket1774
grillo1845
bruke1846
1510 J. Stanbridge Vocabula (new ed.) sig. Dj The fyre cryket..salamandria.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 220/2 Fyre crycket, cricquet.
1992 R. O. Butler Good Scent from Strange Mountain 62 You need to understand this if you are to have fighting crickets. One type we called the charcoal crickets... The other type was small and brown and we called them fire crickets.
firefinch n. any of various African waxbills of the genus Lagonosticta and related genera (family Estrildidae), the males of which have predominantly red plumage.In quot. 1897: (perhaps) the similar crimson finch, Neochmia phaeton, of Australia.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > seed eaters > [noun] > family Estrildidae (wax-bill) > miscellaneous types of
firefinch1783
redhead1816
firetail1845
fire-tailed finch1845
zebra finch1868
magpie finch1869
cut-throat finch1872
melba finch1876
zebra1879
bluebill1955
1783 J. Latham Gen. Synopsis Birds II. i. 318 Fire F[inch]... Size of the smaller Redpole... Inhabits Gambia, in Africa.
1897 Daily News 6 Feb. 8/3 Australian firefinches.
1966 C. Sweeney Scurrying Bush x. 140 Little birds, such as cordon-bleus and firefinches, used to come to the crocodiles' pool to drink.
2003 New Scientist 23 Aug. 22/2 Indigo birds are parasitic, with each species laying its eggs in the nest of a particular species of firefinch.
† fire-flair n. [ < fire n. + flair n.2; compare earlier fire-flaw n.2] Obsolete the common stingray, Dasyatis pastinaca.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > subclass Elasmobranchii > order Hypotremata > [noun] > member of family Dasyatidae (sting-ray)
sting ray1624
sea-devil1634
fiery-flaw1684
fire-flaw1684
whip-ray1699
fire-flaira1705
devil fish1737
trygon1749
stingaree1838
sephen1854
sting-tail1872
fiery-flare1889
the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > seafood > [noun] > fish > other edible fish
dogdrave1227
lamprey1297
lingc1300
loach1357
tench1390
carpc1440
rougetc1485
anchovy1582
pompano1598
tai1620
alewife1633
tug-whitingc1650
weakfish1686
ten-pounder1699
fire-flaira1705
tusk1707
porgy1725
katsuo1727
rockfish1731
tautog1750
sea bass1765
Albany beef1779
sable1810
Murray cod1843
paradise fish1858
spot1864
strawberry bass1867
nannygai1871
maomao1873
spotfish1875
strawberry perch1877
milkfish1880
tarwhine1880
tile-fish1881
latchett1882
tile1893
anago1895
flake1906
branzino1915
rascasse1921
lampuki1925
red fish1951
a1705 J. Ray Synopsis Avium & Piscium (1713) ii. 24 Pastinaca marina..the Fire-Flaire.
a1717 W. Diaper tr. Oppian Halieuticks (1722) ii. 93 The Fire-Flair's Tail it's venom'd Shaft contains.
1867 R. Garner Holiday Excursions Naturalist 170 The becker, the tadpole-fish, the cuckoo rays, and the formidable fire-flair may be mentioned in the list.
1914 Cent. Dict. IX. (rev. ed.) 5949/3 The British species [of sting-ray]..is locally known as fire-flare or fiery-flare.
† fireflirt n. British regional Obsolete the common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > subfamily Turdinae > [noun] > genus Phoenicurus > species phoenicurus (redstart)
redtail1544
redstart1553
stark1611
firetail1752
star finch1752
brandtail1802
redstart warbler1815
firebrand1848
fiery brandtail1853
fireflirt1883
1883 Trans. Stirling Nat. Hist. & Archæol. Soc. 1882–3 61 Redstart—Fire-tail, Fire-flirt.
1885 C. Swainson Provinc. Names Brit. Birds 13 Redstart... Fire flirt. From the continual motion of its tail, which it constantly jerks up and down.
1902 C. L. Hett Gloss Pop., Local & Old-fashioned Names Brit. Birds 52 Fireflirt or Firetail.
† fire hang-bird n. U.S. regional Obsolete the Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula; cf. firebird n. 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > arboreal families > family Icteridae > [noun] > genus Icterus (oriole) > icterus galbula
red-bird1649
Baltimore1669
firebird1778
fire hang-bird1843
1843 B. F. Thompson Hist. Long Island (ed. 2) II. 263 Fire Hang Bird.
1855 J. R. Lowell Let. 21 May (1894) I. 232 The linnets, catbirds, fire hang-birds, and robins.
1912 R. Davol Two Men of Taunton 156 The first Sunday in May, the fire hang-bird would be carolling in the elm-tops.
fire salamander n. a robust, short-tailed salamander, Salamandra salamandra, which is black with bright red, orange, or yellow markings, and is native to upland forests in southern and central Europe; also called spotted salamander.In folklore associated with fire; cf. salamander n. 1a.
ΚΠ
1877 H. Coultas Home Naturalist viii. 199 This reptile is popularly called the fire salamander, from the unfounded belief that if it is put on a fire it will immediately discharge sufficient water to put the fire out.
a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) I. xviii. 471 The true salamanders occur in Europe and western Asia, and the best known is the spotted or fire salamander (Salamandra maculosa ).
2002 G. M. Eberhart Mysterious Creatures II. 470/1 The Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra ) is found in hilly regions throughout Central and Southern Europe.

Derivatives

ˈfirelike adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > series of curves > [adjective] > flame-like
flaming1487
firelike1567
flamboyant1876
the world > matter > light > artificial light > [adjective] > resembling fire
fierya1387
firelike1875
1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 56v The Peare tree..is called Pyrus, for that it is in his fashion and kinde of growth, Piramidall or firelike.
1875 Ld. Tennyson Queen Mary i. v. 50 I'll have it burnish'd firelike.
1988 W. Hamilton Lap of Luxury ii. iv. 105 How flickering and flamy and firelike his colors and shapes are.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

firev.1

Brit. /ˈfʌɪə/, U.S. /ˈfaɪ(ə)r/
Forms: Old English ferian (rare), Old English firian (rare), Old English fyrian, early Middle English fyrie, Middle English fere, Middle English feyre, Middle English ffyre, Middle English fiere, Middle English fijre, Middle English fure, Middle English–1600s fyre, Middle English– fire, 1500s–1600s fier, 1500s–1600s fyer, 1600s vire; U.S. regional 1900s– fiah (in African-American usage); Scottish pre-1700 fyer, pre-1700 fyir, pre-1700 fyr, pre-1700 fyre, pre-1700 1700s– fire.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: fire n.
Etymology: < fire n. Compare Old Frisian fiūria, fiōria to burn, to heat, West Frisian fjurje to set on fire, to be on fire, Middle Dutch, Dutch vuren to set on fire, to light a fire, to discharge a firearm, Middle Low German vǖren to set on fire, to light a fire, (of lightning) to flash, Old High German fiurēn to be on fire, fiuren to set on fire (Middle High German viuren to be on fire, to set on fire, German feuern also to discharge a firearm), and also ( < Middle Low German) Old Swedish, Swedish fyra, Danish fyre, both in senses ‘to set on fire, to light a fire, to be on fire, to discharge a firearm’.In use with reference to emotional excitement (see sense 2a) probably after the corresponding senses of classical Latin inflammāre (see inflame v.), incendere incend v., and ignīre (see ignite v.). Compare also French enflammer (c1150 in Old French in this sense; see inflame v.). With use with reference to the sun (see sense 7a) compare a similar figurative use of classical Latin incendere incend v. Compare also inflame v. 1b. With use with reference to crops developing a scorched appearance (see sense 7b) compare firing n. 6. Compare also earlier burn v.1 5b. With use with reference to bell-ringing (see sense 16) compare earlier firing n. 8. With use in physiology (see sense 19) compare French prendre feu (1878, in Hyppolyte Taine) and German Feuer fangen (1880 in a translation of the French instance of 1878), both with reference to the transmission of impulses between cells.
I. To set on fire and related senses.
†1. transitive. To provide with fire. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
OE Handbk. for Use of Confessor (Corpus Cambr. 201) in Anglia (1965) 83 29 Fede þearfan, and scride, husige and firige, baðige and beddige.
c1175 ( Homily (Cambr. Ii.1.33) in A. M. Luiselli Fadda Nuove Omelie Anglosassoni (1977) 183 Fede þearfan & scrude, husie ge eac & fyrige, baþige, & beddige.
2.
a. transitive. To inspire, inflame (with desire, excitement, or some other emotion); to animate. Also: to stimulate or excite (the imagination, an emotion, etc.). Cf. to fire up 1a at Phrasal verbs.Apparently recorded earlier in English than the literal sense 3; see note in etymology.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > passion > ardour or fervour > ardent or fervent [verb (transitive)] > inflame (with) passion
annealeOE
ontendeOE
anheatOE
atend1006
tindc1175
firec1225
heat?c1225
inlowa1300
inflamea1340
eschaufec1374
flamec1380
kindlec1390
chafe1393
achafea1400
to set a firec1400
lighta1413
incense1435
scaldc1480
embrase1483
incend?1504
to set on fire?1526
enkindle1561
enfire1596
flush1633
boil1649
calenturea1657
infirea1661
c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Royal) (1934) 43 Wið þe halwunde [fur] of þen hali gast, moncunne froure, fure min heorte.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. l. 2088 (MED) The love..For his ladi, whom he desireth, With hardiesse his herte fyreth.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iii. l. 214 (MED) Þin hert & þi ferce corage Þat fired han þi grene tendre age.
c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) l. 1013 That al the world hire beute hadde I-fyred.
a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) l. 3835 (MED) The wynes..kyndlen ire and firen liccherie.
1485–6 W. Caxton tr. Laurent Ryal Bk. lxii. sig. giiij He shold be fyred & soo entalented in the loue of god that al the ioye of thys world shold be vnto hym stenche and tormentes.
1555 Lydgate's Auncient Hist. Warres betwixte Grecians & Troyans i. v. sig. C.iiiv/2 These folkes amerous, Whom loues bronde had fyred to the herte.
1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge ii. iii. sig. D3v What danke marrish spirit, But would be fyred with impatience?
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals viii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 38 Verse fires the frozen Veins.
1728 E. Young Ocean 10 What Heroe's praise Can fire my lays, Like his?
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones V. xv. iv. 218 Perceiving she had fired the young Lord's Pride. View more context for this quotation
1775 S. Johnson Taxation no Tyranny 22 The nations of Europe were fired with boundless expectation.
1813 W. Scott Rokeby i. xii. 17 Fired was each eye, and flushed each brow.
1858 Fraser's Mag. Apr. 403/1 Venice, that land so calculated to fire the imagination of a poet.
1881 W. H. Mallock Romance 19th Cent. II. 62 These imaginations fired him with a new longing for her.
1911 World To-day Oct. 1256/2 She aroused in Neville a championship of the girl that fired her anger.
1958 J. Carew Black Midas iii. 40 He lived only to fire my mind with a desire to learn.
2002 Times Educ. Suppl. 27 Sept. (Going Places) 30 (advt.) Watch your students leave the theatre dizzy with laughter and fired with enthusiasm for the Bard.
b. intransitive. To become inflamed, heated, or excited, esp. with anger or enthusiasm. Cf. to fire up 1b at Phrasal verbs.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > passion > be or become affected with passion [verb (intransitive)]
passion1598
fire1604
impassionate1639
the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry
wrethec900
wrothc975
abelghec1300
to move one's blood (also mood)c1330
to peck moodc1330
gremec1460
to take firea1513
fumec1522
sourdc1540
spitec1560
to set up the heckle1601
fire1604
exasperate1659
to fire up1779
to flash up1822
to get one's dander up1831
to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832
to have (also get) one's monkey up1833
to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837
rile1837
to go off the handle1839
to flare up1840
to set one's back up1845
to run hot1855
to wax up1859
to get one's rag out1862
blow1871
to get (also have) the pricker1871
to turn up rough1872
to get the needle1874
to blaze up1878
to get wet1898
spunk1898
to see red1901
to go crook1911
to get ignorant1913
to hit the ceiling1914
to hit the roof1921
to blow one's top1928
to lose one's rag1928
to lose one's haira1930
to go up in smoke1933
hackle1935
to have, get a cob on1937
to pop (also blow) one's cork1938
to go hostile1941
to go sparec1942
to do one's bun1944
to lose one's wool1944
to blow one's stack1947
to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950
rear1953
to get on ignorant1956
to go through the roof1958
to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964
to lose ita1969
to blow a gasket1975
to throw a wobbler1985
1604 J. Marston Malcontent v. ii. sig. G4v Women are flaxe and will fire in a moment.
1693 S. Slater Serm. preach'd at Crosby-Square 26 Thus the spirit is roil'd, the Patience is spent, and the Heart fires and flames.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. v. x. 204 The Parson..fired at this Information. View more context for this quotation
1832 Examiner 388/1 His heart swells, and his imagination fires.
1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge xli. 170 I should have fired and fumed!
1912 H. Belloc Green Overcoat xvii. 309 She fired suddenly and said—‘None of your lip, young man!’
1996 ‘C. Bishop’ Soulmate vii. 122 Her imagination firing, Robyn went through five rolls of 1600 ASA film.
3.
a. transitive. To apply a source of fire to (a torch, beacon, fuse, etc.) in order to light it. Also: to cause (gunpowder) to ignite. Cf. note at sense 13a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or consume by fire [verb (transitive)] > kindle or set alight
annealeOE
ontendeOE
atend1006
alightOE
kindlec1175
tindc1175
lightc1225
lightenc1384
quickc1390
firea1393
to set (a) fire in, on, upon, of, now only toc1400
quickenc1425
accenda1475
enlumine1477
to light upa1500
to shoot (something) on firec1540
to give fire1562
incend1598
entine1612
betine1659
emblaze1743
to touch off1759
ignite1823
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 1174 Symon [read Synon]..Withinne Troie..a tokne hath fired.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xvii. 399 He toke a torche and fyred it [Fr. laluma].
?a1560 L. Digges Geom. Pract.: Pantometria (1571) Pref. sig. Aiijv He hath..sundrie times by the Sunne beames fired Powder.
1655 E. Terry Voy. E.-India 291 They fire an innumerable company of lamps.
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. xiii. 85 Be sure when you have Fired the Fuse, suddenly to cast it [sc. the grenade] out of your hand.
1795 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 85 461 Twenty..white lights, which were fired at Beachy Head.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. iii. 242 Gunpowder could easily be fired by the heat of the sun's rays converged.
1871 Christian World Mag. July 532 Her own sons have fired the torches to kindle conflagrations that have destroyed some of her most glorious monuments.
1915 Pop. Mech. May 641 (caption) Firing the fuse of a bomb by the flash of an automatic pistol.
1966 F. Herbert Dune i. 138 The palms along the road had been fired to illuminate the house.
2010 D. Fox Jade Man's Skin 160 To have in her hand the names of those who fired the beacon, that was power she would welcome.
b. transitive. To set on fire in order to damage or destroy. Also: to consume or destroy by fire.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or consume by fire [verb (transitive)] > set on fire
inflamec1384
to set on firec1384
firec1425
incense1470
esprise1474
succend?a1475
embrase1480
to light upa1500
enfirea1522
ignifya1586
befire1613
incendiatea1701
to touch off1759
conflagrate1835
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > devour, engulf, or consume (of fire, water, etc.)
supeOE
eatc950
fretc1000
forthnimc1175
forfret?c1225
to-fret?c1225
swallowa1340
devourc1374
upsoup1382
consumea1398
bisweligha1400
founderc1400
absorb1490
to swallow up1531
upsupa1547
incinerate1555
upswallow1591
fire1592
absume1596
abyss1596
worm1604
depredate1626
to gulp downa1644
whelm1667
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 6520 (MED) To fire On euery side and to bete doun Palais & house.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 2217 (MED) A full thousand he fangid to fire [L. incenderent] þe foure ȝatis.
c1565 Adambel Clym of Cloughe & Wyllyam of Cloudesle (Copland) sig. A.iiiv They fyred the house in many a place.
1592 J. Lyly Midas i. i. sig. A Least desiring things aboue my reach, I bee fiered with Phaeton.
1644 W. Prynne & C. Walker True Relation Prosecution N. Fiennes 63 If the Suburbs had been fired, the City, Castle might have been saved.
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 77 Cylon fired the Pythagorean College.
1741 C. Middleton Hist. Life Cicero I. iii. 201 There was some dispute between Cethegus and the rest about the time of firing the city.
1747 W. Harris New Hist. William-Henry Prince of Orange & Nassau (Dublin ed.) III. vi. 113 The Besiegers..fired some Houses and a Magazine of Hay.
1840 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VII. lvi. 180 He fired his camp.
1848 C. Kingsley Saint's Trag. iii. ii. 157 When all your stacks were fired, she lent you gold.
1936 A. Uttley Country Child (new ed.) ix. 132 Hedges were trimmed and the cuttings fired in numerous little bonfires.
2011 K. Marlantes What it is like to go to War xi. 237 We ride the beast over Tokyo, firing paper houses and burning civilians.
c. intransitive. To catch fire, to be ignited, to start burning; to continue burning, to be alight; (also) to be consumed by fire. Cf. to fire up 3 at Phrasal verbs. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (intransitive)] > devour or consume (of fire, etc.) > be devoured or consumed (by fire, zeal, etc.)
to burn away?c1225
consumec1425
fire1565
smother1621
incinerate1800
to go up in smoke1933
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or be on fire [verb (intransitive)] > catch fire or begin to burn
quicka1225
kindle?c1225
tindc1290
atend1398
to catch fire (also afire, on fire)c1400
quickenc1425
enkindle1556
fire1565
to set on fire1596
take1612
catch1632
conflagrate1657
to fly on fire1692
to go up1716
deflagrate1752
flagrate1756
inflame1783
ignite1818
to fire up1845
1565 B. Googe tr. ‘M. Palingenius’ Zodiake of Life (new ed.) xi. sig. SS.x Of twoo sorts is vapoure, one light, drye, and soone begoonne To fire [L. aptus incendi].
c1600 A. Montgomerie Poems (2000) 115 Flie louer (Phoenix): feirs thou not to fyre?
a1618 W. Raleigh Apol. Voy. Guiana 29 in Judicious & Sel. Ess. (1650) For I will fire with the Gallioones if it come to extreamity.
1681 London Gaz. No. 1628/2 In this Fight, the Frigat fired twice.
1731 S. Hales Statical Ess. I. 270 As in the case where houses are first beginning to fire.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth I. 82 Gunpowder will readily fire with a spark.
1814 Caledonian Mercury 22 Aug. The pit [at the colliery] fired, and himself and ten others were unfortunately burnt to death.
1892 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words (at cited word) A pit is said to have fired when an explosion of gas has taken place.
1922 Circular State of New Jersey Dept. of Agric. No. 53 77 Because it fires easily and burns freely, rotten wood of any variety gives excellent results.
1977 G. Jaynes Sketches from Dirt Road 89 The kindling fired and turned to ash before the first billet was laid.
d. transitive. To set fire to (an area, esp. a forest) in order to create land suitable for pasture.
ΚΠ
1898 Ludgate Oct. 532/1 He will fire the forest, and sacrifice two hundred acres to clear two.
1908 Westm. Gaz. 15 Apr. 10/1 Complaints..that we do not fire enough of the forest..where there is pasturage.
1990 N. Gordimer My Son's Story 37 The veld had been fired to let the new growth come through.
†4. transitive. figurative. slang. To infect (a person, the genitals, etc.) with a venereal disease. Cf. fire n. 14, burn v.1 14e. Obsolete.In quots. a1529 and 1660 as part of an extended metaphor.In quot. 1724: reflexive to contract a venereal disease.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > venereal disease > infect with venereal disease [verb (transitive)]
firea1529
burn?1529
pepper1615
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Giiv Some rybbys of the motton be so ranke That they wyll fyre one vngracyously in the flanke.
a1632 T. Dekker Wonder of Kingdome (1636) iv. sig. F1v He keepes a whore indeede.., he may be fir'd.
1660 Man in Moon No. 4. 29 I could wish all Masters..to be careful their goods be not fired..if they come in her Fore-castle.
a1700 Bodl. MS Rawl. Poet. 214 f. 75 Haue a care of your tarse, Least she fire it with her arse, for she is free for all men.
1707 in H. Playford Wit & Mirth (new ed.) III. 71 To the Tavern we went, A Curse on the Place; For her Love was so hot, It soon fir'd my A——.
1724 Laugh & be Fat (ed. 9) 83 A Young Lady of the Town who had fired her Tail by an immoderate Resignation of her Favours.
†5.
a. transitive. With adverb or prepositional phrase: to drive (a person or animal) out of a place by using fire. Also figurative. Cf. smoke v. 6b. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (transitive)] > expel > by fire or smoke
fire1530
smoke1593
smeek1691
burn1710
to funk out1830
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > drive away > by fire
fire1530
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 551/1 Come out, or I shall fyre the out.
a1593 C. Marlowe Edward II (1594) sig. G Marche to fire them from their starting holes.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xxiv. 23 He..shall bring a brand from heauen, And fire vs hence like Foxes. View more context for this quotation
1615 N. Byfield Expos. Epist. Colossians iii. 5 Lust will not usually out of the soul..till it be fired out with confession.
1637 T. Morton New Eng. Canaan ii. v. 79 He [sc. a raccoon] is followed to his hole, which is commonly in a hollow tree, from whence hee is fiered out.
1677 W. Hubbard Narr. Troubles with Indians New-Eng. 128 The rest of the Enemy being first fired out of their strong hold, were taken.
1728 J. Swift Let. in Dublin Weekly Jrnl. 21 Sept. 735/1 The Law is like our Ancestors wooden Houses..where you..are very often fir'd out of all you have.
b. transitive. To force (a way) through a barrier by setting fire to it. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [verb (transitive)] > through or over obstacles > by fire
fire1671
1671 J. Crowne Juliana ii. 22 Ha! the Gates fastened. Fetch me a Torch, I'le fire my way to 'um.
1677 W. Hubbard Narr. Troubles with Indians New-Eng. (new ed.) 52 The Fort..was compassed about with an hedge of almost a rod thickness, through which there was no passing, unless they could have fired a way through.
6.
a. transitive. To subject to the action of fire or heat in order to effect a physical change; (in later use) esp. to dry or cure (tea or tobacco) by heating. Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > perform general or industrial manufacturing processes [verb (transitive)] > burn or bake
anneala1382
set1483
fire1549
neala1552
burn1664
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > subjection or exposure to heat or fire > subject or expose to heat or fire [verb (transitive)]
parcha1382
air1539
fire1549
braze1581
concoct1607
assate1657
burn1669
neal1672
grilly1678
the world > matter > liquid > dryness > dry [verb (transitive)] > by exposure to heat
parcha1382
air1539
torrefy1601
fire1825
the world > food and drink > drink > tea manufacture > [verb (transitive)] > dry tea
wither1753
tache1802
fire1875
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > prepare tobacco [verb (transitive)] > dry or cure
fire1883
flue-cure1909
1549 J. Proctor Fal of Late Arrian sig. M.iii He compareth the same [sc. the vnion of man & God] too yron which is fyred and inflamed.
1656 J. Smith Compl. Pract. Physick 319 A Pumex stone fired, and quenched twice in white wine.
1662 R. Mathews Unlearned Alchymist (new ed.) lxxxix. 159 The gentlier thou dost fire, the better wil thy Work be.
1825 Beverley Lighting Act ii. 18 Hoop, fire, cleanse, wash or scald any cask.
1875 Sat. Rev. 40 553/1 For green tea the leaf is ‘fired’ within two hours of picking.
1883 U.S. 10th Census Rep. Agric. Tobacco 92 If a damp spell occurs after the barn is filled with tobacco it is sometimes fired with wood to save it.
1989 R. Kenan Visitation of Spirits (1996) 254 To see that everyone got his tobacco crop in the barn each week, and that it was fired and cured.
2008 M. Harney Harney & Sons Guide to Tea 36 They fire the tea for a short time in a poey long, a bamboo cylinder unique to China.
b. transitive. Originally and chiefly Scottish. To bake (bread, cakes, scones, etc.) in an oven or over a fire. Now somewhat rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > cooking > cook [verb (transitive)] > bake
bakeOE
pistate1599
fire1736
1736 Mrs. McLintock Receipts for Cookery 8 Put on the Lid, and send it [sc. a pie] to the Oven; when 'tis near fired, pour in a Mutchkin of white Wine.
1800 Edinb. Mag. Dec. 476 The dough is then rolled very thin, and cut into small round scones; which, when fired, are handed round the company.
1887 Trans. Royal Sc. Soc. Arts 11 323 A hot plate..which can be also used for firing scones and oat cakes.
1902 S. Beaty-Pownall ‘Queen’ Cookery Bks. XI. iii. 63 If properly mixed and fired these cakes will rise to four times their original bulk.
1932 D. E. Stevenson Mrs Tim of Regiment 223 Have another scone, Mrs. Christie, or a piece of this cake it was only fired this morning.
2010 Oklahoman (Nexis) 29 Apr. d2 Foodies will delight in gourmet pizzas and fresh breads fired in a wood-burning stove.
c. transitive. To bake (pottery, bricks, etc.) in a kiln.
ΚΠ
1783 J. Wedgwood in Philos. Trans. 1782 (Royal Soc.) 72 307 The kiln in which our glazed ware is fired furnishes three measures.
1850 R. Prosser in E. Dobson Rudimentary Treat. Manuf. Bricks & Tiles i. iv. 109 Firing the articles enumerated in the previous description, requires much more care than firing bricks.
1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 19 Nov. 2/1 The work is fired, again painted with enamels, again fired, and so on.
1940 B. Leach Potter's Bk. ii. 28 The low temperature at which Raku is fired brings the making of pots within the range of any enthusiast.
1984 J. Draper Post-medieval Pottery 1650–1800 vii. 48 Blue is so common because the pigment, cobalt, will stand the high temperatures needed to fire pottery or porcelain.
2004 R. Malmgren in R. Zakin Electric Kiln Ceramics (ed. 3) vi. 151/1 In the past I fired most of my work in a reducing atmosphere in a gas kiln.
7.
a. transitive. literary and poetic. Esp. of the sun: to cause to glow as if on fire; to suffuse with a fiery hue.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > red or redness > making or becoming red > make red [verb (transitive)]
red?c1225
rud?c1225
rubifyc1450
inflame1477
keel1508
redden1552
rubrify1587
fire1597
blusha1616
over-reda1616
ruddy1689
rouge1815
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. ii. 38 When..He [sc. the sun] fires the proud tops of the easterne pines. View more context for this quotation
1633 P. Fletcher Purple Island xi. x. 148 The flaming bloud, Which fir'd her scarlet cheek with rosie dies.
1699 G. Booth tr. Diodorus Siculus Fragments in tr. Diodorus Siculus Hist. Libr. (1700) 784 The scorching Sun fired the Sands.
1785 W. Cowper Task v. 2 The sun..Ascending, fires th' horizon.
1791 A. Radcliffe Romance of Forest I. ii. 54 Till a ruddy glow, which fired all that part of the Heavens, announced the rising sun.
1878 B. Taylor Prince Deukalion ii. ii. 59 As a strong sunset fires the unwilling East.
1901 L. McLaws When Land was Young iii. 39 The sun gazing like a great eye half above the horizon, fired all it touched.
2004 K. McAlpine Off Season i. 7 The Atlantic gave up its night face as dawn fired the horizon.
b. intransitive. Of a crop plant or its leaves: to develop a scorched appearance; to turn yellow, darken, wither, or develop black spots as the result of disease (typically fungal infection) or of adverse growing conditions (esp. drought). Cf. fired adj. 4. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > disease or injury > be diseased, injured, or discoloured [verb (intransitive)]
burn?1523
blast1580
slaya1642
smut1657
fire1693
mowburn1707
go1735
strike1742
curl1793
gum1794
sunburn1833
French1836
rust1839
shank1848
houseburn1850
1693 [implied in: J. Clayton in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 17 947 What they call Firing is this: When..there has been a very wet and cold Season, and very hot Weather suddenly ensues, the Leaves [of tobacco] turn brown, and dry to dust. (at firing n. 7)].
1770 G. Washington Diary 11 Aug. (1976) II. 394 Why Corn in so short a droughth shoud fire so badly is difficult to Acct. for.
1814 W. S. Mason Surv. Ireland I. xiii. ix. 265 They find from experience that the latter [sc. American flax-seed] fired much more than the former [sc. Dutch flax-seed].
1876 J. W. Lloyd Productive Veg. Growing vi. 35 Turnips turn bitter, sweet corn ‘fires’ clear to the tassel—all from the lack of a good rain.
1910 C. G. Hopkins Soil Fertliity & Permanent Agric. xxxvi. 577 Even in the pot-culture laboratory..plants ‘fire’ with inadequate food supplies.
1944 Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. No. 2. 56 Dad says that north field of corn is sure to fire if it don't rain soon.
1966 Russell (Kansas, U.S.) Rec. 11 Aug. 7/2 Dry weather was causing many fields to curl and some fields were firing.
c. intransitive. To glow as if on fire; to redden. Also: to phosphoresce.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > red or redness > making or becoming red > become red [verb (intransitive)]
redOE
ruddenc1225
flamec1400
redden1669
blush1679
fire1837
1837 F. Chamier Walsingham x. 251 ‘You wrong her, Robert!’ replied the girl, her face firing with the sudden blush which had flown to it.
1868 J. C. Wilcocks Sea-fisherman (ed. 2) 112 When the water fires, or, as the fishermen term it, ‘brimes’.
1886 A. Lang Lett. to Dead Authors xvii. 177 Watching..the dawn as it fired.
1910 Cosmopolitan Mag. Apr. 557/2 ‘Your kiss has grown into a mere matter of putting on your hat and coat. Let's drop the custom.’ His face fired. ‘As you please.’
2008 C. Coble Lonestar Secrets xix. 231 He knew he'd said the wrong thing when her cheeks fired with color.
8.
a. transitive. To affect (a part of the body) with a burning sensation; to burn, inflame. Now somewhat rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > suffer pain [verb (transitive)] > cause pain
aileOE
grieve?c1225
girdc1275
painc1375
putc1390
sorea1400
troublec1400
anguisha1425
vex?c1425
urn1488
suffera1500
exagitate1532
fire1602
trachle1889
1602 A. Munday tr. P. de Mornay True Knowl. Mans Owne Selfe 123 The spirits inflamed or ouer-heated, doe mount thether, by fiering the nerues and substaunce of the braine, which causeth a shaking or trembling in the heade.
1673 J. Ray Observ. Journey Low-countries 459 Olives..are of a horrid..taste, firing the throat and palate.
a1774 R. Fergusson Poems Var. Subj. (1779) 4 His amry had nae liquor laid in To fire his mou'.
1866 E. N. Lockerby-Bacon Wild Brier 41 The burning fever fired his aching brain.
2010 D. L. Wilson Raven Speak 87 A hard spasm fired his belly.
†b. intransitive. colloquial. Of a part of the body: to become heated or inflamed. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
1889 Cent. Dict. (at cited word) His feet fire easily in walking. (Colloq.)
9. transitive. Farriery. To cauterize; spec. to treat (a horse) for lameness by cauterizing the affected leg or legs. Cf. firing n. 5.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > veterinary medicine and surgery > practise veterinary medicine and surgery [verb (transitive)] > give specific treatment > to horse
discord1566
rake1566
stop1577
fire1607
unsole1805
mallein1915
hobday1938
tube1969
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 384 Then to giue him the fire which Absirtus doth not allow saying the splene lyeth so, as it cannot easily bee fired, to do him anye good.
1677 London Gaz. No. 1201/4 A..Hunting Gelding..fired for the Spaven..on the near leg behind.
1737 H. Bracken Farriery Improved xxxviii. 545 I see no Harm in Firing or Cauterizing young Colts, that are slender legg'd, upon the back Sinews, before they are lam'd.
1863 E. Farmer Scrap Bk. (ed. 3) 27 They'll be most of them ‘blistered’ or ‘fired’, and turned out!
1976 Cumberland News 3 Dec. 20/9 Last year's Mackeson winner had been ‘fired’ and Camacho had given him plenty of time to recover.
2007 R. Belben Our Horses in Egypt 291 To Griselda, it appeared that the near fore had been fired, and then not tended.
10.
a. transitive. To provide fuel for (an oven, furnace, boiler, etc.); to tend the fire of (a furnace, steam engine, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > work with tools or equipment [verb (transitive)] > furnace or kiln > stoke or feed
stoke1683
fire1688
tease1818
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. iii. 886/1 Fire the Oven, put Fire and Fuel in it to heat.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World II. 119 [He] might as well send his manuscript to fire the baker's oven.
1862 S. Smiles Lives Engineers III. 25 George firing the engine at the wage of a shilling a day.
1890 Daily News 26 Dec. 5/7 The Edinburgh Works have as much coal as will fire the retorts for at least eight or ten days.
1894 Chambers's Jrnl. 30 June 414/1 The boilers were fired by oil.
1931 E. Linklater Juan in Amer. iii. iii. 226 If I hadn't of worked nights on a correspondence course I'd of been firing a furnace still.
1995 S. Bender Everyday Sacred 151 Firing a Raku kiln is a lesson in uncertainty.
b. intransitive. To tend the boiler of a steam engine, esp. professionally. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1861 H. Dawson Reminisc. Life Locomotive Engineer 72 The engineer..who had fired only half so long as the man then firing for him.
1881 M. Reynolds Engine-driving Life 17 He allows the fireman to find out how to fire, when to fire, and where to fire.
1890 Parry's Monthly Mag. Mar. 212/1 I can run this machine to Junction City in time to connect with the train you want; but you will have to fire for me.
1942 Railroad Mag. Nov. 82/1 My fireman was a young fellow named Koenig. He had been firing only about a year on the main line.
c. intransitive. Of a furnace, boiler, oven, etc.: to begin or continue to burn fuel, to come or be alight; to be in operation. Cf. sense 6.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > operate [verb (intransitive)] > function
functionate1843
function1844
fire1873
operatea1918
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or be on fire [verb (intransitive)] > be in state of combustion
burnc1000
fire1873
1873 T. W. Minton Brit. Patent 1709 4 The cooling flue..which communicates outside is kept shut all the time the oven is firing.
1911 Threshermen's Rev. Sept. 38/2 Do you think my boiler will fire any easier by putting a dead plate about 7 or 8 inches wide in the front end of the firebox?
1963 Jrnl. Malayan Branch Royal Asiatic Soc. 36 150 While the furnace is firing various fume and dust collecting devices are functioning.
2003 Pop. Ceramics May 24/2 This measures the temperature inside the kiln while the kiln is firing.
d. intransitive. Of an internal combustion engine: to undergo ignition of the fuel mixture; to run, to begin to go (go v. 10b); (of a cylinder) to have the mixture inside undergo ignition. Also figurative. Cf. to be firing on all cylinders at Phrases 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > internal-combustion engine > operate internal-combustion engine [verb (intransitive)] > of internal-combustion engine: run > fire or misfire
fire1894
miss1904
misfire1928
1894 W. J. Lineham Text-bk. Mech. Engin. x. 699 The first practical gas engine..was double-acting, charging with air and gas during a half stroke, firing during the remaining half.
1902 J. E. Hutton in A. C. Harmsworth et al. Motors & Motor-driving (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) viii. 139 Two cylinders out of the four fire in each revolution.
1938 J.-B. O. Sneeden Introd. Internal Combustion Engin. (new ed.) xiii. 254 At a speed of about 9 m.p.h. the main engines began to fire.
1959 ‘Motor’ Manual (ed. 36) iii. 61 As soon as the engine fires, the left-hand disc valve is drawn to the right.
1999 BBC Vegetarian Good Food May 80/1 Are your engines firing at 80 per cent rather than 100?
2011 A. Livesey Basic Motorsport Engin. 33 Smoothness of running is further improved by setting the sequence in which the cylinders fire.
†11. transitive. In imprecations (in optative with no subject expressed) expressing annoyance, hatred, etc. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [verb (transitive)] > oaths other than religious or obscene
confoundc1330
founda1382
hanga1400
whip1609
rat1691
fire1730
repique1760
curse1761
blow1781
blister1840
sugar1886
1730 T. Cibber Lover v. i. 85 I'll go with you, Tony, fire me, for I find 'tis safer.
1752 S. Foote Taste ii. 30 Fire me, my Lord, there may be more in this than we can guess.
1760 S. Foote Minor i. 31 Fire him, a snub-nos'd son of a bitch.
1819 W. Scott Guy Mannering (new ed.) III. xiii. 156 To return to his country, as he called it—fire him!
†12. transitive. To cause (a horse) to appear lively by inserting ginger in its rectum; = feague v. 2b. Cf. ginger v. 2. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > [verb (transitive)] > tamper with
bishop1727
fire1740
feague1785
ginger1824
spice1841
shot1890
1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. ii. 61 You may chance to get a View of the Horses without the Dealer's having first put them upon their Mettle, or fired them, as it is called; for the last of these they will do, if possible, unless the Horse happens to set his Tail naturally.
II. To discharge a weapon and related senses.
13.
a. transitive. To discharge (a gun, cannon, or other firearm); to shoot (a weapon). Also: to let off (a firework), to explode (a mine).Originally probably encompassing the notion of igniting a charge or fuse; cf. sense 3a.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > fire (a gun) [verb (transitive)]
loosec1400
fire1508
let1553
pop1595
report1605
unlade1611
to fire off1706
to let off1714
squib1811
to set off1881
to ease off1916
poop1917
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > use of mines and explosives > use mines and explosives [verb (transitive)] > mine > explode a mine, etc.
spring1625
vent1687
fire1699
to let off1714
to set off1881
bump1915
the world > matter > light > firework > [verb (transitive)] > let off
to let off1714
fire1740
squib1892
1508 W. Dunbar Goldyn Targe (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems (1998) I. 191 Thai fyrit gunnis with powder violent.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 550/1 Fyer this pece..affustez ceste piece.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cvv The sonne of the Master gonner..fired the gonne, whiche brake & sheuered ye yron barres of the grate.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. ii. 217 Let all the battlements their ordnance fire . View more context for this quotation
1699 W. Hacke Coll. Orig. Voy. iv. 37 They load them with loose Powder..and they fire them with Stone-shot.
1740 G. Smith tr. Laboratory (rev. ed.) App. p. xlii These sort of rockets are fired on a board or stand.
1773 J. Hawkesworth Acct. Voy. Southern Hemisphere II. ii. iv. 332 A musket was fired..which fortunately struck the boat..and made two holes in her side.
1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest II. i. 9 Edward fired his gun into the body of the man.
1870 B. Disraeli Lothair II. xxvii. 300 A Zouave, in wantonness firing his weapon before he threw it away, sent a random shot which struck Theodora.
1904 Collier's 7 May 10/1 The Alabama managed to load and fire one gun in thirty-eight seconds.
1918 E. S. Farrow Dict. Mil. Terms 467 Powder-hose, a tube of strong linen, about an inch in diameter, filled with powder and used in firing military mines.
1974 F. Mowat Boat who wouldn't Float xiv. 163 Paulo fired his cannon.
2010 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 2 Feb. a9/5 Small holes from which Taliban fighters might fire assault rifles and machine guns.
b. intransitive. Of a gun or similar weapon: to go off, to discharge.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > discharge firearms [verb (intransitive)] > of gun: go off or fire
fire1542
discharge1565
shoota1575
go1598
to let fly1611
scatter1736
poop1915
1542 in D. H. Fleming Registrum Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum (1921) II. 734/2 Throw schuting of ane culvering quhilk fyrit of the self.
1668 London Gaz. No. 260/4 The Gun fired, killing two men.
1691 G. W. Story Impartial Hist. Occurr. Kingdom Ireland 24 Those that did [shoot], thought they had done a feat if the Gun fired.
1745 J. Gibson Jrnl. Late Siege 14 Not one Gun fir'd from the Island Battery this Day.
1799 Naval Chron. 1 440 A quantity of six-inch live shells fired.
1816 Sporting Mag. 47 194 The keepers..heard a gun fire.
1834 United Service Jrnl. Dec. 547 Every field-day—every target practice, proves how difficult it is to make it [sc. the musket] fire.
1914 D. Haig Diary 25 Aug. in War Diaries & Lett. 1914–18 (2005) 65 The howitzers firing point blank from the barricades made the Enemy pause and inflicted great loss on him.
1994 P. Gerard Cape Fear Rising v. 98 The cannons fired across the harbor toward Sumter.
c. intransitive. To discharge a gun or other firearm; to shoot. Frequently with prepositions indicating the target or direction of the shooting, as at, upon, into, etc.Fire! as a word of command is now apprehended as the verb in the imperative; originally it was probably a use of the noun (cf. French feu, German Feuer). Cf. ready, aim, fire at ready int. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > discharge firearms [verb (intransitive)]
to let fly1611
gun1622
fire1635
pop1650
pluff1826
squib1831
crack1835
poop1915
loose1928
to turn on (or give) the heat1928
1635 W. Barriffe Mil. Discipl. lxxxi. 228 The next outermost file [of Muskettiers], presents and fires.
c1645 I. Tullie Narr. Siege of Carlisle (1840) 47 Stradling..threatened to fire upon them.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 101 He fir'd, and hit two.
1784 in J. Cook & J. King Voy. Pacific III. vi. v. 306 It is impossible for them to reload, as the animal is seldom at more than twelve or fifteen yards distance, when he is fired at.
1797 R. Southey Botany Bay Eclogues in Poems 86 I fir'd, they fell.
1799 J. MacDonald Treat. Pract. Field Artillery 13 No. 11 will give the words, ‘Point. Ready. Fire.’
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 250 Devonshire..had been fired at from Colepepper's windows.
1855 T. C. Haliburton Nature & Human Nature I. viii. 231 He has fired into the wrong flock this time.
1885 Law Times 9 May 29/2 The plaintiff..fired at him, but did not hit him.
1907 C. T. Brady Blue Ocean's Daughter ii. 26 ‘Fire! Fire!’ shouted Captain Hiram, furiously angry. The four remaining guns and the long-tom roared out an instant response.
1943 Yank 12 Nov. 5/1 Range fifteen hundred. Lead one half. Fire when ready.
1968 M. M. Johnson Turn of Tide 38 In the excitement of the chase the gunsmen seemed to fire at random.
1996 B. Baldwin Defiance 50 You are cleared to fire at will.
2007 Hindustan Times 28 May 9/1 Troops fired on armed militants attempting to infiltrate into India.
†d. transitive. Military. Of an instructor: to order or get (a recruit) to discharge a firearm during training. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1840 D. Walker Defensive Exercises 164 When the learners can individually shoot well at these distances, the instructor will fire them by files.
1847 Infantry Man. 49 The instructor will fire each recruit singly by word of command.
1900 Westm. Gaz. 8 Feb. 5/2 It is impossible to see how facilities are to be obtained to ‘fire’ a large number of Reservists.
14.
a. transitive. To discharge a gun or other firearm in order to propel (a bullet or projectile); (of a gun) to propel (a projectile) on being discharged. Later also: to launch (a torpedo, missile, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > fire (a gun) [verb (transitive)] > fire (a missile) from gun
to shake off1583
fire1598
to fire off1731
poop1917
squeeze1956
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > assail with missiles [verb (transitive)] > discharge (missile)
sendc825
to let flyOE
slenga1300
castc1325
lancec1330
throwa1382
launch?a1400
whirlc1440
fling1487
dischargec1500
to let goc1500
streek1513
deliver1574
level1592
fire1887
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost iii. i. 60 Is that Lead slow which is fierd from a Gunne? View more context for this quotation
1665 R. Alleine Heaven Opened viii. 181 The bullet is fired out of the Gun, and thence it flies so fiercely.
1746 A. F. Gen. Entertainer I. lxi. 220 As the last Remedy he fired a Bullet thro' his Heart.
1846 W. Greener Sci. Gunnery (new ed.) 58 The number of rounds that each gun fired averaged 1,249.
1885 Times 23 Jan. 9/2 A man who had never commanded a regiment or fired a shot in anger.
1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 25 Mar. 5/1 The French torpedo-boats fire bow torpedoes.
1917 Manch. Guardian 21 Aug. 5/2 The Germans have been firing enormous numbers of asphyxiating shells.
1959 F. Sondern Brotherhood of Evil iv. 64 They drew revolvers from under their jackets and fired four bullets point-blank into his back and head.
1975 Bull. Atomic Scientists (Chicago) 31 iv. 13 A proposed super-quiet, highly maneuverable sub designed to fire very long-range missiles.
2005 J. Deaver in T. Hillerman & R. Herbert New Omnibus Crime 413 A voice clattered over the car's radio, ‘All units. Reports of shots fired on Route 128... Repeat, shots fired. All units respond.’
b. transitive. To throw or otherwise physically propel (a projectile), esp. at a person or thing; spec. to shoot (an arrow) from a bow. Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge missile [verb (intransitive)]
shoot993
loose1387
discharge1481
fire1848
1823 J. P. Neale Views Seats Noblemen VI. (Grandtully Castle, Perthshire) Only the watch-towers of the Gateway remain: in these are loop-holes for firing arrows.
1840 Young Scholar's Ref. Bk. (ed. 2) 48 Verbal Improprieties... William fired a stone..[instead of] William threw a stone.
1848 S. Ockley Hist. Saracens (ed. 5) 143 The Persian archers firing on them all the while.
1878 A. M. Hamilton Nerv. Dis. x. 270 A boy having fired a brick at her.
1904 Cosmopolitan Sept. 514/1 The Coney Island negro holds his head in a canvas slot for any savage to fire a ball at.
1993 M. J. Plotkin Tales Shaman's Apprentice iv. 86 Packs of young boys fired little arrows from miniature bows at the ubiquitous yellow-green lizards.
2011 L. Penny Trick of Light vii. 104 Ruth fired chunks of stale bread at the birds.
c. transitive. Originally and chiefly Caribbean. To aim or deliver (a blow, kick, etc.). Frequently with at.
ΚΠ
1838 E. L. Joseph Warner Arundell I. 129 I fired a lick at his head which stunned him.
1898 H. Kirke Twenty-five Years Brit. Guiana App. B. 350 He fire a kick at me.
1918 E. C. Parsons Folk-Tales Andros Island, Bahamas 134 An' when he fire de blow t'oughtin ter kill de tailor, he break down de bed an' goin' back to his bed.
1966 D. J. Crowley I could talk Old-story Good vi. 84 They begin to fight, and I pass there, and I fire a slap at Booky and Rabby.
1997 San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News (Nexis) 29 Nov. (Sports section) 1 d Dave Lowry and Denis Pederson fired punches at each other.
2007 E. Buntin Anu Bantu xxi. 141 He fired a blow at Anu's head.
15. intransitive. slang. To ejaculate; (occasionally also more generally) to experience orgasm. Also transitive.Frequently as part of an extended metaphor. See also to shoot (also fire) blanks at blank n. Additions.
ΚΠ
a1704 T. Brown Upon a Ladies being Disappointed in Wks. (1707) I. 97 The lavish Hero fir'd too fast.
1767 T. Bridges Homer Travestie (ed. 2) I. iii. 105 The whoring rascal..Prepares to fire a double round.
1811 Lexicon Balatronicum at Crown Office I fired into her keel upwards.
1884 Randiana xxiii. 120 I had..got to that point where no man or woman could cease firing.
1970 P. R. Runkel Law unto Themselves x. 221 When the first guy had fired he got up off her.
2011 G. Knight Curse of Dragon God vii. 106 Then it was Bradley's turn to fire his load.
16. transitive. Campanology. To ring (the bells) in a peal all at once. Also in figurative contexts. Cf. firing n. 8.
ΚΠ
1832 J. Dennis World turned Upside Down 5 Ring the bells; fire the bells.
1840 E. Pickering Who shall be Heir? I. iv. 156 She rang Rosalind's praise in the drawing-room in double quick time, and bobmajor, firing the bells at her daughter.
1913 J. Masefield Daffodil Fields 60 Men fired the bells till all the valley filled with bell-noise.
2010 C. Marsh Music & Society in Early Mod. Eng. 485 I am reliably informed that, in modern campanological parlance, ‘firing’ the bells is the act of ringing them all at once.
17. figurative.
a. transitive. To direct (a number of statements, questions, accusations, etc.) at a person forcefully and (typically) in rapid succession. Also: to utter (a single statement, etc.) forcefully or abruptly; also with direct speech as object. Frequently with at. Cf. shoot v. 21e.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > furious anger > to rage (of fury) [verb (intransitive)] > be or become furious
wedec1000
resea1250
ragea1400
rampc1405
rase1440
outragea1475
stampc1480
enragec1515
ournc1540
gry1594
fury1628
rampage1692
to stamp one's foot1821
to fire off1848
foam1852
fire1859
to stomp one's feetc1927
to spit chips1947
to spit cotton1947
to spit blood1963
to go ballistic1981
the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (transitive)] > project through space > specifically an immaterial thing
shoot1612
launch1748
fire1859
1859 C. Reade Love me Little I. i. 29 Her ardent aunt..fired many glowing phrases in at the [carriage] window.
1873 Argosy 16 443 ‘Miss Timmens is not worth her salt,’ fired Tod.
1875 G. Meredith Ordeal Richard Feverel II. vii. 111 Richard..never left his hand till he had hauled him up, firing questions at him all the way.
1900 Daily Iowa Capital 29 Jan. 7/3 For an hour the husband and wife fired accusations at each other.
1957 Washington Post 17 May 1/6 Firing facts, figures and his own brand of quips, he struck back at Congressional critics of rising defense costs.
1989 L. Duncan Don't look behind You xii. 110 I heard him draw in a breath to fire back a retort.
2013 A. McKinty I hear Sirens in Street 63 As soon as he finds out that the suitcase belonged to a UDR captain.., he's going to be firing a million questions at me.
b. transitive. To direct (a sharp or sudden look) at a person. Cf. shoot v. 21e.
ΚΠ
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. ii. 35 He..would not notice the looks of recognition which Tom kept firing at him.
1869 Bow Bells 5 May 343/1 The black circles round those eyes artificially increased their failing brilliancy, and they fired glances of scorn and fearlessness at her gibing enemies.
1902 J. W. Swift Iowa Boy around World in Navy xi. 334 This young American lady..fired such a look of killing scorn at poor ‘Mike’ that he almost fainted.
1990 P. Taylor See how they Run iv. 88 She inspects the wing of a chicken she's about to buy and fires a look of disgust at her butcher.
18. transitive. Photography. To operate (a camera or a flash); to release (the shutter). Cf. to fire away 3 at Phrasal verbs, to fire off 4 at Phrasal verbs.In quot. 1859 with allusion to sense 13a.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > action of taking photograph > take photograph [verb (intransitive)]
photograph1857
fire1859
click1937
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > action of taking photograph > photograph [verb (transitive)] > release shutter
fire1859
1859 Photogr. Jrnl. 16 Aug. 20/1 After waiting for the favourable moment to spring his shutter or fire his pistol camera, he finds..that he has got nothing.
1883 Brit. Jrnl. Photogr. 19 Jan. 32/2 The right hand now fires the instantaneous shutter and the view is taken.
1953 A. Matheson Leica Way 176 For very soft and even illumination..fire the flash at a light wall or ceiling, utilizing the reflected light.
1961 Changing Times Dec. 33/2 Its four release buttons focus and fire the camera simultaneously.
1987 Pract. Photogr. Dec. 15/4 The lens won't close down automatically when the shutter is fired.
1990 PIC July 97/1 (advt.) No dials or controls to operate—just fire the flash and read the f -stop.
2011 A. S. White Photographer's Guide Nikon Coolpix P500 iii. 72 The Smile Timer..fires the shutter automatically when the camera detects a smile.
19. Physiology.
a. transitive. Of a stimulus: to initiate a nerve impulse in (a nerve cell or nerve); (of a nerve impulse) to initiate contraction of (a muscle or muscle fibre); = excite v. 4.
ΚΠ
1926 G. W. Crile & A. F. Rowland Bipolar Theory of Living Processes ix. 145 The physical energy of sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch or pain which in turn ‘fires’ certain brain cells that in turn ‘fire’ certain muscle cells or certain other brain cells.
1951 Amer. Scientist Jan. 87 Both the propagation of the nerve impulse and its mode of firing the contraction mechanism have yet to be explained.
1991 Time 28 Oct. 87/2 The proper stimulus, say, a whiff of a perfume or a glimpse of a familiar place, trips the relay, firing the neurons and bringing a past event to consciousness.
2009 G. Waggoner & D. Stumpf From Baby to Bikini 110 The signal from the brain fires the muscle and it contracts.
b. intransitive. To generate a nerve impulse or muscular contraction; to undergo muscular contraction.
ΚΠ
1905 J. Crichton-Browne Prevention of Senility 27 Little wonder that these [nerve] cells, firing 28,000 rounds a day, should be overheated and kick, or should generally suffer erosion.]
1931 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 7 Feb. 208/1 The motor-unit here is prone to fire more than once in response to a single centripetal volley delivered by a single stimulus.
1968 G. P. Waldbauer in J. W. L. Beament et al. Adv. Insect Physiol. 310 (caption) The flight stops and low amplitude wing vibrating ensues during which time the two muscles fire in very brief bursts or singlets.
2010 New Scientist 30 Jan. 19/3 The [lateral] line is peppered with hair cells called neuromasts that fire in response to pressure waves.
20.
a. transitive. To cause the emission of (a pulse or beam of light, particles, etc.), esp. in a particular direction; (of a device) to emit (such a pulse or beam). Often with at, into, etc.
ΚΠ
1928 Science 12 Oct. p. x/2 They fired a beam of electrons into a crystal, and found that it behaved in the same way as X-rays.
1933 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 26 June 3/6 In this neck is an electron ‘gun’ that fires a beam of electrons against a mosaic plate four inches square.
1959 New Scientist 22 Oct. 747/1 The material from which a metal surface is made can be determined by firing a beam of electrons at it.
1984 Syracuse (N.Y.) Herald-Jrnl. 16 July a5/1 Element 108 was synthesized briefly by firing a beam of iron 58 nuclei at a target of lead 208.
1989 New Scientist 17 June 4/3 Semiconductor lasers fire coded pulses to keep score in war games.
2001 Guardian 17 Apr. i. 9/2 Officials..have also travelled to California to investigate a laser that fires an ultra-violet beam that paralyses the subject.
2005 T. Standage et al. Future of Technol. viii. 247 Fire x-rays through such a crystal and they will interact with the atoms in that crystal.
b. intransitive. Of a beam or pulse of light, particles, etc.: to be emitted or transmitted.
ΚΠ
1930 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 129 366 When the electron beam is firing straight through the slits..the angle is zero.
1968 W. J. Meredith & J. B. Massey Fund. Physics Radiol. xxxvi. 505 With the beam firing vertically upwards..a wrapped X-ray film is placed on the applicator end.
1986 Boys' Life Jan. 18/1 A blast of laser light fires through the internal mirrors of a large telescope.
2008 Economist 1 Nov. 96/1 When the beam fires, the control system must compensate both for aircraft jitter and for distortions in the beam's path.
c. transitive. To cause (an electron gun, laser, etc.) to emit a pulse or beam of light, particles, etc.
ΚΠ
1935 Sci. Rep. Tōhoku Univ. 1st Ser. 24 35 The electron counter is fixed at a suitable scattering angle, and the electron-gun is fired.
1963 Science 10 May 715/1 Model 3020 is a 20-joule, liquid-nitrogen-cooled unit laser that can be fired several times a minute.
2011 I. Leslie Born Liars 240 She pulls the trigger (actually, a foot-pedal), fires the laser, and blasts a tiny, pinhead-sized hole in the myocardium.
d. intransitive. Of a laser, electron gun, etc.: to emit a pulse or beam of light, particles, etc.
ΚΠ
1963 Steel: Metalworking Weekly 25 Mar. 76/3 When the laser ‘fires’, the stored energy is released as a flash of red light, of a single wave length and with all the waves ‘in step’.
1998 J. Anshel Visual Ergonomics in Workplace iv. 24 If, for example, the screen is capable of being scanned 72 times a second..the electron gun fires over 37 million times a second.
2009 K. Barat Laser Safety xiv. 201 During surgical procedure with endo laser in repeat mode, the laser fires twice and stops.
III. To eject or dismiss, and related senses.
†21. slang (chiefly U.S.).
a. transitive. To forcibly eject or expel (a person) from a place; to dismiss (a person) from a place peremptorily, throw out. Frequently with out of, out. Obsolete except as merged with sense 22. [Probably originally with allusion to the speed or force with which a bullet is propelled from a firearm (see branch II.). Connection with sense 5a appears unlikely given the chronological gap.]
ΚΠ
1877 J. A. Dacus Ann. Great Strikes U.S. 415 She was advised to ‘hire a hall’, and the chairman was asked to ‘fire her out’.
1879 Reno (Nevada) Weekly Gaz. 17 Apr. 4/1 His diatribes..annoyed the editor, who incontinently fired him down stairs.
1887 Lisbon (Dakota Territory) Star 11 Feb. 4 Postmaster Breed says the next time such a thing occurs he will fire the offender bodily.
1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 July 12/1 There was £3 8s. due for two weeks' rent.., which sum had better be paid promptly if he didn't want to be fired out in the street.
1912 Michigan Rep. 167 322 She had had Mr. Bruski, and she said she was not satisfied with him, and she fired him out, and then she was married to Mr. Kasmareck, and she said, when she got his money, she fired him, and then she married Mr. Rohn.
1920 J. Hay ‘No Clue!’ ix. 115 This Mildred Brace claimed she had suffered injury at your hands. You fired her out of your office.
b. transitive. To reject (a picture sent in for exhibition). Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
1892 Nation (N.Y.) 15 Dec. 447/2 Artists of genuine ability have found their canvases fired.
22. transitive. Originally U.S. slang. To dismiss (a person) from a job or position; to sack. Cf. hire and fire at hire v. 1a.Originally a contextual use of sense 21a.Formerly also with †out.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > lack of work > [verb (transitive)] > dismiss or discharge
to put awaya1387
discharge1428
dismiss1477
to put out of wages1542
discard1589
to turn away1602
to put off1608
disemploy1619
to pay off1648
to pay off1651
to turn out1667
to turn off1676
quietus1688
strip1756
trundle1794
unshop1839
shopc1840
to lay off1841
sack1841
drop1845
to give (a person) the shoot1846
bag1848
swap1862
fire1879
to knock off1881
bounce1884
to give (a person) the pushc1886
to give (a person) the boot or the order of the boot1888
bump1899
spear1911
to strike (a medical practitioner, etc.) off the register1911
terminate1920
tramp1941
shitcan1961
pink slip1966
dehire1970
resize1975
to give a person his jotters1990
1879 Cincinnati Enquirer 7 Sept. 10/7 Professional Slang... Fired, Banged, Shot Out—When a performer is discharged he is one of the above.
1882 A. E. Sweet & J. A. Knox Sketches from Texas Siftings 42 If Gould fires you out, the only railroad in Texas that will employ you will be some street railroad.
1889 Pall Mall Gaz. 29 Apr. 2/1 A Commissioner who should be discovered to have reported a subordinate unjustly would be fired from his high post.
1893 Daily World (Lawrence, Kansas) 15 July Allen ought to have been fired from his job long ago.
1936 J. B. Priestley They walk in City i. 7 ‘I'll fire her this very afternoon.’ He was not an American, but when he was feeling brisk and rather brutal, he liked to use these American terms.
1950 R. Macdonald Drowning Pool ii. 22 You can't fire me. You never paid my wages, anyway.
1971 P. Berton Last Spike iii. ii. 95 The Sun revealed that five Canadian conductors had been fired and two more suspended.
1992 D. Glazer Last Oasis 72 You two lads—you're fired. Don't think I'm paying you to pounce about in here.
2002 Rave Mag. (Brisbane) 26 Nov. 28/1 Suzette..gets fired from her job and decides in a moment of desperation to head to Phoenix.

Phrases

P1. to fire a broadside: to fire all the guns on one side of a ship. Now chiefly figurative: to launch a fierce verbal attack against a person. Frequently with at.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > invective or abuse > utter invective or abuse [verb (intransitive)]
railc1475
envy1477
inveigh1529
blaspheme1584
invect1614
invectivate1624
to cast, throw, or fling dirt1642
ran-tan1660
philippicize1799
to fire a broadside1827
tirade1871
diatribe1893
rort1931
foul-mouth1960
1690 Hist. Wars Ireland 21 By great Providence, firing a Broadside, the shock loosened her, so that she got clear.
1745 Admiral Mathews's Charge against Vice-Admiral Lestock Confuted 14 You fired a broadside at the four sternmost ships.
1792 Philaro & Elenora II. 169 They were quickly attacked by an Algerine corsair, who fired a broadside at them.
1827 Lancet 13 Jan. 480/1 He fired some desperate broadsides at the materialists.
1886 E. Lynn Linton Paston Carew III. xi. 240 Only when Mary fired a broadside into her character—calling her a bold, bad, brazen-faced slut—only then did Mrs. Richard give tongue in her behalf.
1926 C. Beaton Diary 7 Dec. in Self Portrait with Friends (1979) i. 1 She fired comic broadsides at Drinkwater and Squire.
1947 J. G. Crowther & R. Whiddington Sci. at War 75 H.M.S. Warspite fired her first radar-directed broadside.
2014 Sun (Nexis) 4 Aug. 2 Boris Johnson will fire a broadside at David Cameron over Europe this week.
P2. to fire a salute: to fire a certain number of guns as a formal sign of respect or celebration. Cf. salute n.1 3a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > respect or show respect [verb (intransitive)] > fire a salute
to fire a salute1737
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > discharge firearms [verb (intransitive)] > fire a salute
to fire a salute1737
1737 Mem. Soc. Grub-St. II. 129 The first of our ships that came up with any of theirs, should fire a salute.
1793 A. Dirom Narr. Campaign in India 5 Tippoo had fired a salute on the 26th from the fort, in the sight and hearing of our camp.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxvii. 91 At sundown, another salute of the same number of guns was fired.
1852 Yankee Notions Sept. 340/1 One fine Fourth of July morning, the Colonel..proposed to fire a salute in honor of the day.
1907 C. Wells Patty in Paris xi. 130 Cannon booming, and salutes being fired, and rockets and fireworks going off like mad.
1977 Time 20 June 14/1 Batteries of cannon fired multigun salutes.
2011 York Press (Nexis) 3 June Guns fired a salute to celebrate the Queen's coronation.
P3. to be firing on all cylinders (also to be firing on all four (etc.) cylinders): (of a motor vehicle) to be operating with maximum power, to be functioning at its best; (of a person or thing) to be performing at peak level, to be on top form.
ΚΠ
1914 Hudson Triangle (Detroit, Michigan) 10 Jan. 1/1 The remark is often made by the driver at such a time that..the car ‘is firing on all cylinders’.
1921 Wabash (Indiana) Plain Dealer 6 Aug. 3/3 When I finally hit a town that contained some regular doctors I'd let them..put me in such nice running order I'd be firing on all 12 cylinders at once.
1939 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 30 Mar. 14/1 The postponement..has had the effect of causing a couple of them [sc. boxers] to feel that they might not be firing on all cylinders this week-end.
1967 Pop. Mech. Nov. 210/2 An engine that is not firing on all six or eight cylinders is prone to stalling.
2004 Nat. Health Nov. 3/2 Winter bugs usually strike when it's least convenient, so ensuring your immune system is firing on all four cylinders is essential.
P4. fire-and-forget: (of a missile) able to guide itself to its target once fired.
ΚΠ
1973 RUSI Jrnl. June 32/2 The developed helicopter with a ‘fire and forget’ ATGW [sc. anti-tank guided weapon] could be feasible in the next two decades.
1993 Toronto Sun 17 June 58/1 The latest fire-and-forget, multiple-warhead rockets and mines launched by aircraft, ships and ground troops can be spread over large areas and use their own internal sensors to seek and destroy concentrations of armor, he said yesterday.
2012 R. Lewis Company Commander 332 It is a heat-seeking fire-and-forget missile—once it is locked on, you aren't getting away.

Phrasal verbs

† to fire about
Obsolete.
transitive. To surround with fires.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > a fire > [verb (transitive)] > surround with fires
to fire abouta1500
a1500 (?c1450) Bone Florence (1976) l. 709 The Grekys had fyred hym abowte, That he myght on no syde owte.
 to fire away
1. intransitive.
a. To fire a weapon, esp. repeatedly or eagerly.Also as a command, in which fire is now apprehended as the verb in the imperative, although perhaps originally it was a use of the noun; see note at sense 13c.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge missile [verb (intransitive)] > repeatedly
palt1606
to fire away1727
1727 S. H. Jrnl. 17 Apr. in J. W. Fortescue Following Drum (1931) i. 7 The gunner..overeager fired away without the sign, & so spoiled the whole project.
1782 G. R. Fitzgerald Appeal to Public 359 This Deponent heard said Charles Lionel Fitzgerald, Esq; cry out to the men in the house and offices, ‘Fire away, my boys.’
1805 European Mag. & London Rev. Dec. 434/2 Fire away Flannagan—Bow wow—More cartridges and plenty of shot—Batter the hulls, and splinter the decks!
1894 T. W. Knox Lost Army xviii. 121 It formed a fine target for the rebel artillery, and they fired away at it with good effect.
1899 United Service Mag. Dec. 290 Fire away, men; fire anywhere: keep up your fire.
1970 J. A. Cash in J. Albright et al. Seven Firefights in Vietnam vi. 128 He..was firing away at the tank attacking the bunker entrance.
2004 Time Out N.Y. 1 Jan. 14/2 Any meathead can grab a Glock and fire away.
b. colloquial. To proceed to speak, play, sing, etc., esp. with energy and rapidity. Chiefly in imperative, esp. as an expression of permission or encouragement: ‘go ahead’, ‘proceed’.Originally a figurative use of sense 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)] > and proceed with rapidity
to fire away1756
to ask away1844
rev1939
1756 Gentleman's Mag. 26 398 Take out the tompkin of your mouth, and fire away loud as thunder.
1775 F. Burney Jrnl. 10 Mar. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1990) II. 88 Mr. Burney fired away in a Voluntary.
1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack xvii. 117 Now then, Billy, fire away.
1841 E. FitzGerald Lett. (1889) I. 67 Then Edgeworth fires away about the Odes of Pindar.
1880 J. Payn Confidential Agent III. 156 You tell it to me, and I will tell it to him. Fire away.
1945 G. Mitchell Rising of Moon v. 49 ‘Fire away,’ said Mr. Seabrook, ‘and no lies... Got it?’
1992 T. Enright tr. S. O'Crohan Day in our Life (1993) 50 Micí rambles in to me..to ask the latest news. I fire away with whatever comes into my head.
1999 D. Mitchell Ghostwritten 426 ‘I acted on your answer. But I have another question.’ ‘Fire away.’
2. transitive. To use up (ammunition) by firing a gun or other weapon.
ΚΠ
1729 J. Braithwaite Hist. Revol. in Morocco 56 The Bashaw ordered them a Barrel of Powder to fire away; which they did as fast as they could load and fire.
1757 Genuine Tryal Admiral Byng 110 Two Rounds of Hammered, and four Rounds of Grape Shot fired away; so that only one of each Nature remained.
1800 A. Bishop Connecticut Republicanism 22 If you fire away at random 30 rounds of his majesty's powder and one of them takes full effect, why the man is dead! but he had a fair chance for his life.
1864 P. L. Macdougall Mod. Warfare xiii. 428 There is a tendency in the soldiers..to fire away their ammunition in a reckless and aimless manner.
1908 Jrnl. Mil. Service Instit. U.S. July 40 The troops..fired away all their ninety cartridges and had to retire for want of ammunition.
1993 J. J. Hennessy Return to Bull Run (1999) xix. 339 It took less than thirty minutes for each of the skirmishers to fire away their forty rounds of ammunition.
3. intransitive. To take a succession of photographs. Also transitive: †to expose (a plate) (obsolete). Cf. to fire off 4 at Phrasal verbs.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > action of taking photograph > photograph [verb (transitive)] > in specific manner
to fire away1859
stereograph1860
flashlight1886
shoot1890
snap1890
Kodak1891
snapshot1898
mug1899
mutoscope1899
telephotograph1899
mutograph1908
photomaton1927
soft-focus1928
minicam1937
microfiche1975
pap1993
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > action of taking photograph > photograph [verb (transitive)] > expose
expose1839
to fire away1859
1859 Photogr. News 1 Apr. 44/1 I went back to the station, got the porter to carry up my camera, and fired away plate No. 1.
1900 Daily News 21 June 5/1 I..fired away at some Tommies trying to catch a pig.
1958 Newnes Compl. Amateur Photogr. iv. 60 There is no doubt that the 35mm. user, with 36 frames on his roll, is much more apt to fire away indiscriminately.
2007 S. Bavister et al. New Photogr. Man. iv. 113 When you encounter an interesting subject, do not just fire away from where you are standing.
 to fire off
1. transitive. To discharge (a gun or other firearm); to shoot (a weapon).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > fire (a gun) [verb (transitive)]
loosec1400
fire1508
let1553
pop1595
report1605
unlade1611
to fire off1706
to let off1714
squib1811
to set off1881
to ease off1916
poop1917
1706 G. Berkeley Descr. Cave of Dunmore in Wks. (1951) IV. 260 I desired one of our company to fire of his gun.
1777 T. Anburey Let. 12 July in Trav. Interior Parts Amer. (1789) I. 333 They struck the butt end of their piece upon the ground, and bringing it to the present, fired it off.
1846 M. B. Betham-Edwards Jrnl. 26 Dec. in A. R. Johnston et al. Marching with Army of West (1936) 237 A sentinel accidentally fired off his gun.
1891 Dict. National Biogr. X. 933/1 His [sc. Samuel Johnson's] courage was remarkable; he separated savage dogs, swam into dangerous pools, fired off an overloaded gun, and defended himself against four robbers single-handed.
1900 N.Y. Jrnl. 23 Apr. 2/5 A Hill-Billie..talks as he pleases, drinks whiskey when he gets it, and fires off his revolver as the fancy takes him.
1921 A. P. Poley Imperial Commonw. xi. 171 On the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's birthday, the English ran up St. George's flag and fired off guns.
1959 I. Jefferies Thirteen Days ii. 29 The idea was to jerk the gun and fire it off like a rattle.
1995 D. Brown Amer. West v. 106 He then stepped quickly outside and fired off the weapon.
2. transitive.
a. To shoot (a bullet or other projectile) from a gun or other firearm. Also: to let off (a firework).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > fire (a gun) [verb (transitive)] > fire (a missile) from gun
to shake off1583
fire1598
to fire off1731
poop1917
squeeze1956
1731 Polit. State Great Brit. May 538 Three Rounds were fired off.
1853 Eliza Cook's Jrnl. 31 Dec. 150/2 How different the times now are, when compared with the times in which those cannon-balls were fired off!
1862 Times 16 June 11/5 He at once admitted that the defendant had fired off a shot.
1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols xxvi. 315 A grey-headed old man comes out and fires off crackers.
1921 V. Stefansson Friendly Arctic xlv. 452 We spent much of the evening outdoors, shouting and firing off ammunition.
1954 J. Corbett Temple Tiger 67 The thirty men on the ridge now started shouting, and Badri on hearing them got hold of his shot gun and fired off ten rounds.
1999 T. Harnden Bandit Country (2000) ii. 85 Having fired off a whole magazine I whipped back behind a wall.
b. To utter or compose (a statement, question, letter, etc.) in a rapid or abrupt manner; to direct (statements, questions, etc.) at a person forcefully and in rapid succession.
ΚΠ
1850 J. W. Croker in L. J. Jennings Croker Papers (1884) III. xxvii. 214 He had a most effective style of firing off his joke.
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. III. cxi. 600 The great set speeches being fired off..with a view to their circulation in the country.
1900 Sketch 21 Feb. 191/2 She persisted in firing off Ollendorfian French at the waiters.
1962 P. Green tr. S. de Beauvoir Prime of Life viii. 443 His wife, with a great air of ingenuousness, fired off embarrassing home truths and non sequiturs.
1999 J. Lloyd & E. Rees Come Together v. 133 I find myself play-acting, laughing at Amy's jokes, firing off question after question.
2010 Independent 30 Dec. 8/3 The Prime Minister..fired off memos to Mr Howe and Mr Richardson.
†3. intransitive. Of a person: to react with sudden anger; to explode with rage. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > furious anger > to rage (of fury) [verb (intransitive)] > be or become furious
wedec1000
resea1250
ragea1400
rampc1405
rase1440
outragea1475
stampc1480
enragec1515
ournc1540
gry1594
fury1628
rampage1692
to stamp one's foot1821
to fire off1848
foam1852
fire1859
to stomp one's feetc1927
to spit chips1947
to spit cotton1947
to spit blood1963
to go ballistic1981
1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair lxiv. 589 Madame de Belladonna..fired off in one of her furies.
4. transitive. To take (a photograph); to operate (a flash). Also intransitive: †to take a rapid succession of photographs (obsolete). Cf. to fire away 3 at Phrasal verbs.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > action of taking photograph > photograph [verb (transitive)]
photograph1839
take1839
photogenize1841
photographize1841
to fire off1860
photo1865
1860 Photogr. News 20 July 148/1 The first plate having been successful, others were fired off at the sun in rapid succession.
1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 51 What is the object of firing off at a street view..with the shutter set at 1/ 70 second when 1/ 25 would be fast enough?
1939 K. Henney & B. Dudley Handbk. Photogr. iv. 93 Synchronized flash guns..enable the photographer to fire off a flash bulb at the same instant the shutter of his camera is opened.
1991 Photo Answers Aug. 18/2 After firing off just one frame the rainbow faded.
2000 J. Goldman Dreamworld xvii. 127 She grabbed her camera from the glovebox and fired off a couple of shots of him as he retreated.
†5. transitive. To cause the fire in (a kiln) to cease burning. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > work with tools or equipment [verb (transitive)] > furnace or kiln > stop stoking or cause to stop burning
to blow out1864
to fire off1884
1884 C. T. Davis Pract. Treat. Manuf. Bricks 283 When the first kiln has been fired-off.
1922 Brick & Clay Rec. 3 Oct. 463/1 About 12 hours after a kiln has been fired off, this blower is set up and the heat blown out of the kiln.
 to fire up
1.
a. transitive. To fill with enthusiasm, passion, anger, etc.; to stimulate, excite.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > be or become excited [verb (reflexive)]
movec1300
to fire up1654
work1732
pique1749
hyped1938
the mind > emotion > excitement > exciting > excite [verb (transitive)]
astirc1000
stir?c1225
araisec1374
entalentc1374
flamec1380
reara1382
raisec1384
commove1393
kindlea1400
fluster1422
esmove1474
talent1486
heavec1540
erect?1555
inflame1560
to set on gog1560
yark1565
tickle1567
flesh1573
concitate1574
rouse1574
warmc1580
agitate1587
spirit1598
suscitate1598
fermentate1599
nettle1599
startle1602
worka1616
exagitate1621
foment1621
flush1633
exacuatea1637
ferment1667
to work up1681
pique1697
electrify1748
rattle1781
pump1791
to touch up1796
excite1821
to key up1835
to steam up1909
jazz1916
steam1922
volt1930
whee1949
to fire up1976
geek1984
1654 J. Trapp Comm. Minor Prophets (Hoseah ii. 15) They have their hearts so fired up thereby with a holy zeal for him, that [etc.].
?1747 J. Smith Let. from Friend at J—— 4 That Poisonous Cup..with which he was to be fired up to all violent Breaches both of Honour and Honesty.
1790 J. Ryland Char. Hervey 22 It was the continual Grace of Christ upon his heart, that fired up his meditations and devotional exercises.
1890 New Eng. Mag. Oct. 268/1 We kem here t' git fired up with relidgin and pyis thoughts.
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 16 Oct. 10/3 He fired up his investigators, offered deals to suspects who would turn state's evidence, and played off the knowledge of one suspect against the other.
1978 Detroit Free Press 5 Mar. c4/1 When you're fired up and want to play, Vandy's style won't let you play.
2001 B. Holland They went Whistling 18 She [sc. Boudicca] fired up a motley, discontented, disorganized rabble.
b. intransitive. To show sudden fury or anger.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (intransitive)] > become angry
wrethec900
wrothc975
abelghec1300
to move one's blood (also mood)c1330
to peck moodc1330
gremec1460
to take firea1513
fumec1522
sourdc1540
spitec1560
to set up the heckle1601
fire1604
exasperate1659
to fire up1779
to flash up1822
to get one's dander up1831
to fly (occasionally jump, etc.) off (at) the handle1832
to have (also get) one's monkey up1833
to cut up rough, rusty, savage1837
rile1837
to go off the handle1839
to flare up1840
to set one's back up1845
to run hot1855
to wax up1859
to get one's rag out1862
blow1871
to get (also have) the pricker1871
to turn up rough1872
to get the needle1874
to blaze up1878
to get wet1898
spunk1898
to see red1901
to go crook1911
to get ignorant1913
to hit the ceiling1914
to hit the roof1921
to blow one's top1928
to lose one's rag1928
to lose one's haira1930
to go up in smoke1933
hackle1935
to have, get a cob on1937
to pop (also blow) one's cork1938
to go hostile1941
to go sparec1942
to do one's bun1944
to lose one's wool1944
to blow one's stack1947
to go (also do) one's (also a) dingerc1950
rear1953
to get on ignorant1956
to go through the roof1958
to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964
to lose ita1969
to blow a gasket1975
to throw a wobbler1985
1779 Duchess of Devonshire Sylph II. 95 How she fired up, and like the leopard, appeared more beauteous when heightened by anger?
a1817 J. Austen Northanger Abbey (1818) I. vi. 71 If I were to hear any body speak slightingly of you, I should fire up in a moment. View more context for this quotation
1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller I. 261 She fired up at the arrogance of the squire.
1936 V. Woolf Let. 26 Aug. (1980) VI. 67 I should never have fired up into a fury if I hadn't been on the strain.
2010 J. McDonough Tammy Wynette (new ed.) 273 All of a sudden she fired up, and, buddy, she came down on him!
2. transitive.
a. To light the fire in (a furnace, oven, etc.). Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or consume by fire [verb (transitive)] > make a fire
beetc885
make?a1200
to make on1487
to fire up1836
to lay a fire1876
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or be on fire [verb (intransitive)] > catch fire or begin to burn > ignite something
to fire up1836
1836 Southern Literary Messenger 2 734 Passing the fire-room, where they were just firing up, I stopped.
1841 Penny Mechanic 24 Apr. 155/1 The oven is generally fired up about eleven o'clock in the day.
1879 S. Baring-Gould Germany II. 368 In the depth of winter..it is quite enough to fire up twice in the twenty-four hours.
1911 Power 5 Sept. 369/1 [He] found an old steam gage and proceeded to put it on his boiler and then fired up.
1986 G. Keillor Lake Wobegon Days 221 When Bud fires up the cast-iron Providence wood stove, a faint recollection of chickens emanates from the floor.
2010 J. McGregor Even Dogs (2011) v. 194 The technicians open the door and rake over the embers and fire up the furnace again.
b. colloquial. To light (a cigar, cigarette, pipe, etc.). Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > smoking > smoke [verb (intransitive)] > light up
to fire up1890
1858 Spectator 4 Sept. 929/1 He..had barely fired up his cigar, when the bell rang.
1890 Cent. Mag. 127/2 I assured him that I was more than content with the pipe. When we had fired up he grew more and more in cordial mood.
1903 N.Y. Evening Post 13 Oct. 1 Then the two statesmen fired up their cigars.
1980 D. Nemec Bright Lights, Dark Rooms i. viii. 72 In a while they were all sitting on cushions and Mimi was firing up a joint.
1995 F. Michaels Dear Emily i. 4 She fired up, blew an artful smoke ring.., and drew the paper toward her.
3. intransitive. To burst into flame; to start burning; (of a volcano) to erupt in flame. Cf. sense 3c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or be on fire [verb (intransitive)] > catch fire or begin to burn
quicka1225
kindle?c1225
tindc1290
atend1398
to catch fire (also afire, on fire)c1400
quickenc1425
enkindle1556
fire1565
to set on fire1596
take1612
catch1632
conflagrate1657
to fly on fire1692
to go up1716
deflagrate1752
flagrate1756
inflame1783
ignite1818
to fire up1845
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > formation of features > convulsion > [verb (intransitive)] > erupt
erupt1772
to fire up1869
1845 A. Smith Marchioness of Brinvilliers xix, in Bentley's Misc. 18 4 He used more of the medicated alcohol than was needed. It fired up,..causing the flask to explode violently.
1869 J. Phillips Vesuvius iii. 59 On the 20th of April rain came with the Sirocco, and the mountain, as usual, fired up.
1938 Jrnl. Iron & Steel Inst. 137 ii. 113 a The material ‘fires up’ rapidly and quickly produces an excellent gas for power purposes.
1994 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 29 Oct. (Spectrum section) 5 The spirit..had told him that the volcanoes would ‘fire up again’.
2008 S. Willson DIY Guide to Appliances 121/2 If your gas stovetop burners fire up fine but your oven won't light, check the gas shutoff valve.
4.
a. intransitive. To begin to operate or function; to start up.Originally with reference to steam engines, where the notion of lighting a fire to start operation is prominent; cf. sense 2a. In later use typically of car engines, electronic devices, etc., where this notion is weakened or lost.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)] > become active or come into operation > of a mechanism, etc.
to fire up1859
start1880
to set on1889
trip1940
1859 Documents City of Boston, 1858 II. No. 37. 7 At the time designated, the Engine, which is to commence the exhibition, will fire up.
1904 Sci. Amer. 17 Dec. 434/1 One of the larger motors ‘fired up’, and started for San Francisco over the highways.
1941 Motor Boating Jan. 264/1 When the engine fires up, use as little choke as possible.
1983 Pop. Sci. June 118/1 The car fires up in the driveway with no problem.
2012 S. Dunn Zero Visibility xvi. 187 She waited for the computer to fire up.
b. transitive. To cause (an engine, machine, device, etc.) to begin to operate or function; to switch or turn on, to start up.See note at sense 4a.
ΚΠ
1861 U.S. Jrnl. Homœopathy Mar. 362 The moment you fire up your engine, steam is generated.
1911 Automobile Dealer & Repairer June 79/1 The person firing up the car, allows the gasoline to flow too freely when flushing the sub-burner.
1959 Flying Aug. 30/2 Arrival..calls for firing up the radio telephone.
1983 PC June 187/2 I..fired up the computer to begin writing.
2013 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 11 Apr. b12/3 You have to..fire up the Facebook or Facebook Messaging app.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

† firev.2

Forms: pre-1700 fyre.
Origin: Either (i) a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Or (ii) a borrowing from Dutch. Etymons: veer v.1; Dutch vieren.
Etymology: Either a variant of veer v.1, or directly < its etymon Dutch vieren (pronounced with initial /f/).
Obsolete. rare.
transitive. To let out (an anchor cable); = veer v.1 3a.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > carry specific amount of sail [verb (transitive)] > trim sails > release sheet
veerc1460
firec1540
c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Hyst. & Cron. Scotl. iv. xiv. f. 48v/2 Thay fyrit thair takillis, & sank down in ye middis of ye see.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
<
n.int.eOEv.1OEv.2c1540
随便看

　

英语词典包含1132095条英英释义在线翻译词条，基本涵盖了全部常用单词的英英翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。

　

Copyright © 2004-2022 Newdu.com All Rights Reserved
更新时间：2025/3/4 17:24:23