n. (pl. -eys)
1. a vertical channel conducting smoke or combustion gases etc. up and away from a fire, furnace, engine, etc.
2 the part of this which projects above a roof.
3 a glass tube protecting the flame of a lamp.
4 a narrow vertical crack in a rock-face, often used by mountaineers to ascend.
Phrases and idioms:
chimney-breast a projecting interior wall surrounding a chimney. chimney-piece an ornamental structure around an open fireplace; a mantelpiece. chimney-pot an earthenware or metal pipe at the top of a chimney, narrowing the aperture and increasing the up draught. chimney-stack
1. a number of chimneys grouped in one structure.
2 sense 2. chimney-sweep a person whose job is removing soot from inside chimneys.
Etymology: ME f. OF chemin{eacute}e f. LL caminata having a fire-place, f. L caminus f. Gk kaminos oven