slice-bar
Definition
Noun: A tool used for stoking a fire or moving coals, typically consisting of a long, flat, and slightly curved metal bar; also known as a "slice" or "slice bar." It is commonly used in blacksmithing, heating, or kitchen contexts to stir fuel, remove ash, or handle hot materials.
Usage Examples
- (A metal tool for managing fire fuel.)
- (A tool for cleaning a heating appliance.)
- (A tool for improving air flow in a fire.)
Advanced Usage
"to use a slice-bar": to employ this tool for specific fire management tasks.
- The maintenance worker used a slice-bar to break up clumps of burning coal. (To dislodge compacted fuel.)
"slice-bar poker": a variant term referring to the same tool, emphasizing its use for poking or stirring.
- The slice-bar poker was essential for keeping the workshop fire even. (A tool for consistent heating.)
Variants and Related Words
Slice (n): a shorter or alternative name for the same tool.
- He grabbed the slice to clear the grate. (A synonym for slice-bar.)
Fire-bar (n): a similar tool used for supporting or moving fuel in a grate.
- The fire-bar was too short for the deep furnace. (A related but distinct tool.)
Synonyms
- Fire poker: a rod for stirring a fire, often shorter and pointed.
- Stoker: a tool for pushing fuel into a fire, sometimes mechanized.
Phrasal Verbs
- Slice through: to cut or move through with a slicing motion (not specific to slice-bar, but related).
- He sliced through the ash pile with the slice-bar. (To penetrate and shift material.)
Related Idioms
- "a slice of the fire": a rare, non-standard phrase meaning a portion of the fire's fuel or heat.
- He took a slice of the fire with the bar to start a new hearth. (Figurative use for transferring heat.)