[f. as prec.]
1. The pavement of brick or stone on which a fire is made; the hearth in front of a fireplace.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 161/2. Fyyr herthe, focarium.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 45. The Testicles are … the Fen-place or Fire-hearth, where the Lares or houshold-Gods of the body, do solace and disport themselues.
1703. T. N., City & C. Purchaser, 43. These bricks are frequently used in Paving of Cellars, Wash-houses, Sinks, and Fire-hearths, and the like.
1769. R. Price, Observ. Revert. Payments (1792), II. 276, note. There was a tax of two shillings on every fire-hearth.
2. A kind of cooking range or stove for ships.
1676. Lond. Gaz., No. 1127/4. The … Invention of Iron Fire-Hearths for Ships.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 118. Fire-hearth. The fire-place and conveniences in the galley for cooking the provisions for the people.
