Middle English Dictionary Entry
chimenẹ̄, -ei, -ai n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chimenẹ̄, -ei, -ai n. Also chimine(e, chimne(i, chemene(i, chemne(i, chimpne, chimneth & kim(e)nai. |
| Etymology | OF cheminée & NWF keminée (from L ppl. camīnāta). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A fireplace (as in the main hall, the ladies' chamber, etc., of a mansion or palace); also, the mantel of a fireplace.
Associated quotations
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2232 : Þan was þer on a chymenay a gret fyr þat brente rede.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3951 : And stoden be the Chiminee, Togedre spekende alle thre.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1402 : Syþen by þe chymne in chamber þay seten.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1667 : To chambre he con hym calle, & to þe chemne þay past.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1141 : Pandarus..bar the candele to the chymeneye.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)446 : With inne was a chapelle, a chambir and ane haulle, A chymneye with charecole, to chawffene þat knyghte.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)168 : In chambyrs with chympnes þey chaungene þeire wedez.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3041 : Stone-[s]tepells full styffe in þe strete ligges, Chawmbyrs with chymnes, and many cheefe inn[e]s.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)1393 : A fyre in the chymney Loke, damesele, þat þer bee; Fagotes of fyr-tree Fet þou vs ȝare.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2009 : To the Chymneye forth he goth And caught a bronde him with to smyte.
- (?c1450) R.St.Edmund in Archaeol.42404 : In the Parlor. j new chimnay of lyme and stone with ij harthes and a doubill pype.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)13 : He had nothyng wherwith he myght socoure and defend hymselfe, bot oonly a paire of tanges that studyn yn the chymneth.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)15 : Stondyng afor the chymney playng with the Qwene.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4932 : With esement..to make hire mete in the chymeny and to warme hire by wtjnne ye kechene.
- (1464) Acc.Howard in RC 57259 : Payd to the masonys for makynge of a chymny.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)468 : iij perchers of wax þen shalle he fet, A-boue þo chymne þat be sett.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)408 : And bade his men faste go and make a fyre in the chemeney.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)583 : Chereliche as a cheueteyne his chambre to holden, Wiþ chymene & chapell.
2.
(a) The chimney stack of a fireplace, chimney; also, a flue; (b) the outlet or mouth of a volcano; (c) fig. the top (of the body) as receiving the 'exhalations' of the 'humors'.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Degare (Auch)352 : Þe smoke com of his nose awai Ase fer out of a chimenai.
- c1390 Ȝhit is god (Vrn)45 : Chaumbres, Chimeneys al to-barst..Pinacles, Steples to grounde hit cast.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)798 : Chalk-whyt chymnees þer ches he innoȝe Vpon bastel rouez, þat blenked ful quyte.
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.129 : In þe same lane beth ij Chymeneys defectifs and perilous for myschief þat myȝt fall of fire.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)29b/a : Fumarium: a chymmeney or a fumerel.
- (1428) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)170/8 : The foundement of the parlour and Chaumbre with the..chemeneys.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2351 : Forth wente this fals Mapyne..in to Floripas bour; By a Chemney he wente inne.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4920 : My newe hous with the iij tunnys of chemeneyis..I wil the entre..longe to ye neve hous as ferre as the chymeneys stretchith.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.386 : That no chymyneys of Tymber be suffred.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.4.11 : Visevus, that writhith out thurw his brokene chemeneyes smokynge fieres.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)38b/b : Þe heed is chymeneye & helynge of alle þe body, and þerfore he fongiþ in itself many fumositees þat comeþ vp of al þe body.
3.
(a) A contrivance for heating, baking, parching, drying; brazier, stove, oven, kiln, furnace, forge; (b) fig. the heart as supplying heat to the body; (c) fig. something that tries and refines the soul; ~ of meknesse.
Associated quotations
a
- (1360) Doc.Finchale in Sur.Soc.6p.liii : Unum magnum chemene pro torali de novo factum.
- (1377) Deed Yks.in YASRS 76129 : 2 kymnays.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.3.17 : Sothely our God..may delyuere vs of the chymneye [WB(2): chymenei] of brennynge fijre.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3776 : That hoote cultour in the chymenee heere.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)255a/b : When þey [raisins] beþ so y dryed..þey ben y cleped vue passe, for þey suffre a manere of violence of þe hete of þe ouene..som tyme vua passa is y made in chymneyes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)310b/b : Þe more it [okra] is y brende in þe chimene [L in camino] þe bettre it is.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)70 : In þe kenel shuld be a Chymene for to warme þe houndis.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4377 : Þe chimne, brinand with þe het, Bytakens þe tribulacion gret.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)75 : Chymney [Win: Chymny]: Fumarium, caminus, epicaustorium.
- (a1451) Will York in Sur.Soc.45100 : j chymnay ferreum.
- (1462) Will York in Sur.Soc.30261 : A kymenay, a screne of yren.
- (?1462) Will York in Sur.Soc.30256 : I wille that William my sone have..the chymneth..the ledes, with other brewing vessell.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)24b : A chymnay: caminus, epicaustorium, fumerus, fumerale.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)114/18 : When tho thre children were put to the fyre in þe chemyney for worschipyng of God.
- a1500 Rolle Mend.L.(Wor F.172)48 : As oo drope of water is consumed in a greate chymny of fuyre.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)8b/a : For it [herte] is a fyry chymynay [L clibanum] of al þe body, it is said to bene hote.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.2.5 : In fyr is preued gold and siluer; men forsothe resceyuable in the chymne [WB(2): chymeney] of mecnesse.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.48.10 : Y chees thee in the chymeney of pouert.
4.
~ of fir, the fiery furnace of hell.
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)375 : Þe aungeles shulleþ..þe luþere..in þe chymeney caste of ffur [L in caminum ignis].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.13.42 : Thei [angels] shulen sende hem into the chymney of fijr [L in caminum ignis].
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)47/27 : Þe yuel þei casten out in to þe chymney of fire.