chimney
chimney Lexical Profile
chimney Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A vertical structure, typically made of brick or stone, designed to ventilate smoke or combustion gases from a fireplace, stove, or furnace to the outside atmosphere.
"Thick gray smoke billowed from the brick chimney on the roof of the old farmhouse."
A steep, narrow cleft or vertical shaft in a rock face, cavern, or volcanic formation.
"The climbers carefully navigated the narrow rock chimney to reach the summit plateau."
A clear glass tube used to enclose and protect the flame of a lamp.
"She carefully wiped the soot off the fragile glass chimney of the antique kerosene lamp."
• verb
To climb a narrow vertical rock cleft by applying outward pressure with the back against one wall and the feet or hands against the opposing wall.
"He chimneyed up the dark crevice with surprising agility, bracing his shoulders against the cold stone."
Word Nuance & Usage
While universally known as a noun referring to a smoke vent, 'chimney' is also used as a highly specific verb in rock climbing to describe ascending a narrow fissure using opposing body pressure.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'chimenee', borrowed from Old French 'cheminee' (meaning fireplace or room with a stove), ultimately from Late Latin 'caminata' and Latin 'caminus' (furnace or forge).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.