Search the Dictionary

Fire; a flame; a light. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

of ground." Spenser. Chimney lug, or Lug pole, a pole on which a kettle is hung over the fire, either in a chimney or in the open air. [Local, U.S.] Whittier.

ne, containing fossil shells, which reflect a beautiful play of colors. It is also called fire marble, from its fiery reflections.

The faculty or power of voluntarily producing light, as in the firefly and glowworm.

ing or reflecting light; brilliant; bright; as, the is a luminous body; a luminous color. Fire burneth wood, making it . . . luminous. Bacon. The mountains lift . . . their lofty and luminous heads. Longfellow.

order Lycopodiaceæ. It is highly inflammable, and is sometimes used in the manufacture of fireworks, and the artificial representation of lightning.

A fire-backed pheasant. See Fireback.

staff or club of metal; a spiked club; -- used as weapon in war before the general use of firearms, especially in the Middle Ages, for breaking metal armor. Chaucer. Death with his mace petrific . . . smote. Milton.

anything metallic about it, to be worn in a powder magazine. -- Magazine gun, a portable firearm, as a rifle, with a chamber carrying cartridges which are brought automatically into position for firing. -- Magazine stove, a stove having a chamber for holding fuel which is supplied to the fire by some self-feeding pro…

d from lesser ones; esp. (Engin.), a principal pipe leading to or from a reservoir; as, a fire main. Forcing main, the delivery pipe of a pump. -- For the main, or In the main, for the most part; in the greatest part. -- With might and main, or With all one's might and main, with all one's strength; with violent effo…

One of a tribe of beetles (Malacodermata), with a soft and flexible body, as the fireflies.

The finish around a fireplace, covering the chimney-breast in front and sometimes on both sides; especially, a shelf above the fireplace, and its supports. [Written also mantle.]

The lintel of a fireplace when of wood, as frequently in early houses.

e. -- Marine insurance, insurance against the perils of the sea, including also risks of fire, piracy, and barratry. -- Marine interest, interest at any rate agreed on for money lent upon respondentia and bottomry bonds. -- Marine law. See under Law. -- Marine league, three geographical miles. -- Marine metal, an…

d on the seacoast, with a gun on the summit mounted on a traversing platform, so as to be fired in any direction.

- Masked battery (Mil.), a battery so placed as not to be seen by an enemy until it opens fire. H. L. Scott. -- Masked crab (Zoöl.), a European crab (Corystes cassivelaunus) with markings on the carapace somewhat resembling a human face. -- Masked pig (Zoöl.), a Japanese domestic hog (Sus pliciceps). Its face is deep…

Anything used for catching and retaining or communicating fire, made of some substance which takes fire readily, or remains burning some time; esp., a small strip or splint of wood dipped at one end in a substance which can be easily ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus or chlorate of potassium. Match bo…

An old form of gunlock containing a match for firing the priming; hence, a musket fired by means of a match.

In the state of matter. I do not mean that anything is separable from a body by fire that was not materially preëxistent in it. Boyle.

Having mettle; high-spirited; ardent; full of fire. Addison.