manteltreen.
/ˈmantltriː/, U.S. /ˈmæn(t)lˌtri/ Now chiefly regional.
1. A beam across the opening of a fireplace, serving to support the masonry above. In later use also: a stone lintel or arch serving the same purpose.
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 > beam over
mantel1357
balk1432
manteltree1451
mantry1530
clavel1602
chimney-bar1833
1451–2 in C. L. Kingsford Rep. MSS Ld. de l'Isle & Dudley (1925) I. 222 (MED) [For making a] mantiltre.
1482 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1883) II. 332 Pro uno mantiltr', ad valentiam ijs.
1486 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1885) III. 256 For enbowyng of a mantell' tree.
1583 W. Fulke Def. Transl. Script. iii. 122 He might shewe vs the mantilltree of a chimney, and a brasse pot hanging ouer the fire.
1606 Wily Beguilde 73 Old Grandsir Thickskin, you that sit there as melancholy as a mantletree.
1649 R. Hodges Plainest Direct. 14 Hee hang'd his mantle upon the mantil tree of the chimney.
1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 34 Semi-Oval Arches..are sometimes made..over Kitchin-Chimnies, instead of Mantle-trees.
1789 P. Smyth tr. H. Aldrich Archit. (1818) 121 The apertures are limited by two jambs, and the mantle-tree.
1811 J. Parkins Young Man's Best Compan. 139 The chimney..upright over the mantle tree.
1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby Mantel-tree, the beam of the chimney piece to the wide fire-places of old-fashioned country-houses.
2. A mantelpiece, a mantelshelf.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > wallcovering > [noun] > ornamental chimney-piece
parel1528
mantel1532
chimneya1552
manteltree1572
mantelpiece1660
chimney-piece1680
mantelling1861
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > stand > [noun] > shelf > specific type
manteltree1572
bookshelf1648
chimney-mantle1663
chimney-piece1680
mantel1742
mantelpiece1767
brace1806
mantelshelf1828
mantel-place1842
mantelboard?1881
sub-shelf1889
rick1901
fireboard1907
brace-piece-
bracket-shelf-
1572 in F. G. Emmison Essex Wills (1986) (modernized text) III. 274 6 pewter platters standing on the mantle tree.
1608 Inventory Richard Smith in J. West Village Rec. (1982) iv. 100 ij shelves wth. peynted clothes wth. a shelf called a mattle tree wth. v cossyns.
a1629 W. Hinde Faithfull Remonstr. (1641) 116 I comming once into his chamber and finding over the Mantletree a paire of new Cards.
a1661 W. Brereton Trav. (1844) 7 All the walls most richly gilded,..rich marble mantle-tree.
1781 W. Cowper Charity 460 No charity but alms aught values she, Except in porcelain on her mantel-tree.
1868 J. C. Atkinson Gloss. Cleveland Dial. 327 Mantel-tree, the long, massive, but narrow wooden shelf..crossing just above the wide opening of the old-fashioned fireplace.
1886 E. A. Allen Triangular Society 142 Morn after morn, as I poured out my tea, I glanced at the note on the prim mantel-tree.
1902 E. Phillpotts River 13 For lack of mantel-tree Nicholas had nailed up a shelf to hold certain heirlooms.
1916 in W. F. Macy & R. B. Hussey Nantucket Scrap Basket 97 He would sit with his feet on the mantel-tree (mantelpiece) and spit, and spit, and spit.
1928 A. E. Pease Dict. Dial. N. Riding Yorks. 80/2 He'll a mebby putten 't on t'mantle-tray.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1451