Part 157

Fire"crack`er (?), n. See Cracker., n., 3.

Fire"crest` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A small European kinglet (Regulus ignicapillus), having a bright red crest; -- called also fire-crested wren.

Fire"dog` (?), n. A support for wood in a fireplace; an andiron.

Fire"drake` (?), n. [AS. frdraca; fr fire + draca a dragon. See Fire, and Drake a dragon.] [Obs.] 1. A fiery dragon. Beau. & Fl.

2. A fiery meteor; an ignis fatuus; a rocket.

3. A worker at a furnace or fire. B. Jonson.

Fire"-fanged` (?), a. [Fire + fanged seized.] Injured as by fire; burned; -- said of manure which has lost its goodness and acquired an ashy hue in consequence of heat generated by decomposition.

Fire"fish` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A singular marine fish of the genus Pterois, family ScorpÊnidÊ, of several species, inhabiting the Indo-Pacific region. They are usually red, and have very large spinose pectoral and dorsal fins.

Fire"flaire` (?), n. [Fire + Prov. E. flaire a ray.] (Zoˆl.) A European sting ray of the genus Trygon (T. pastinaca); -- called also fireflare and fiery flaw.

Fire"flame` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The European band fish (Cepola rubescens).

Fire"fly` (?), n.; pl. Fireflies (&?;). (Zoˆl.) Any luminous winged insect, esp. luminous beetles of the family LampyridÊ.

The common American species belong to the genera Photinus and Photuris, in which both sexes are winged. The name is also applied to luminous species of ElateridÊ. See Fire beetle.

Fire"less, a. Destitute of fire.

Fire"lock`, n. An old form of gunlock, as the flintlock, which ignites the priming by a spark; perhaps originally, a matchlock. Hence, a gun having such a lock.

Fire"man (?), n.; pl. Firemen (-men). 1. A man whose business is to extinguish fires in towns; a member of a fire company.

2. A man who tends the fires, as of a steam engine; a stocker.

Fire"-new` (?), a. Fresh from the forge; bright; quite new; brand-new. Charles reade.

Your fire-new stamp of honor is scarce current.

Shak.

Fire"place` (?), n. The part a chimney appropriated to the fire; a hearth; -- usually an open recess in a wall, in which a fire may be built.

Fire"proof` (?), a. Proof against fire; incombustible.

Fire"proof`ing (?), n. The act or process of rendering anything incombustible; also, the materials used in the process.

Fir"er (?), n. One who fires or sets fire to anything; an incendiary. [R.] R. Carew.

Fire"-set` (?), n. A set of fire irons, including, commonly, tongs, shovel, and poker.

Fire"side` (?), n. A place near the fire or hearth; home; domestic life or retirement.

Fire"stone` (?; 110), n. [AS. frstn flint; fr fire + stn stone.] 1. Iron pyrites, formerly used for striking fire; also, a flint.

2. A stone which will bear the heat of a furnace without injury; -- especially applied to the sandstone at the top of the upper greensand in the south of England, used for lining kilns and furnaces. Ure.

Fire"tail` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The European redstart; -- called also fireflirt. [prov. Eng.]