smoke-jack
Definition
Noun: A smoke-jack is a mechanical device, historically used in kitchens, that turns a roasting spit by means of a fan or wheel driven by the rising hot air and smoke from a fire or chimney.
Usage Examples
- (A device turned by rising smoke to rotate a roasting spit.)
- (A historical kitchen tool powered by chimney heat.)
Advanced Usage
- "to work like a smoke-jack": to operate automatically or efficiently using natural forces.
- The ventilation system works like a smoke-jack, drawing air upward without electricity. (It functions passively, using heat convection.)
Variants and Related Words
- Smoke (n): the visible gas and particles produced by burning material.
- The smoke from the chimney filled the room. (Combustion byproduct.)
- Jack (n): a device for lifting or turning something; also used in compound words for mechanical aids.
- He used a car jack to lift the vehicle. (A lifting tool.)
Synonyms
- Roasting jack: a general term for any device that turns a spit.
- Spit turner: a device that rotates a roasting spit.
Related Idioms
- No direct idioms exist for "smoke-jack" due to its specialized, historical nature. The word appears primarily in technical or historical contexts.