chimney-pot
Definition
- Noun:
- A cylindrical pipe or cap placed on top of a chimney: "chimney-pot" refers to a short, often earthenware or metal pipe fitted to the top of a chimney to improve draft or prevent rain, debris, or birds from entering.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The old house had a cracked chimney-pot that needed replacing. (The cylindrical cap on the chimney was damaged.)
- Birds often perch on the chimney-pot, looking for a warm spot. (The cap on top of the chimney is a common resting place.)
Advanced Usage
- "To be as tall as a chimney-pot": a figurative expression (rare in modern usage) meaning to be very tall or prominent.
- The new building was as tall as a chimney-pot, dominating the skyline. (The building was extremely tall, like a chimney cap.)
Variants and Related Words
- Chimney (n): the vertical structure that carries smoke from a fireplace or furnace out of a building.
- The chimney was blocked with soot. (The smoke passage was clogged.)
- Pot (n): a container or cylindrical object; in "chimney-pot," it specifically refers to the cap or pipe.
- Chimney-pot hat (n): a type of tall, cylindrical hat worn in the 19th century, resembling a chimney-pot in shape.
- He wore a chimney-pot hat to the formal event. (A tall, stovepipe-style hat.)
Synonyms
- Chimney cap: a protective covering for the top of a chimney.
- Flue cap: a cap that fits over a chimney flue to prevent downdrafts.
- Stovepipe: a metal pipe that connects a stove to a chimney, sometimes used loosely for chimney-pots.
Related Idioms
- None specifically for "chimney-pot" alone; however, the phrase "chimney-pot hat" is an idiomatic term for a top hat.