A place for a fire, esp. the partially enclosed space at the base of the chimney appropriated to the fire; a hearth.
1702. T. Savery, Miner’s Friend, 34. An Engine of a three Inch-bore, or thereabout, working the water up sixty feet high, requires a Fire-place of not above twenty Inches deep.
1710. Swift, Lett. (1767), III. 39. I have no fire-place in my bed-chamber; but ’tis very warm weather when one’s in bed.
1825. J. Neal, Brother Jonathan, II. 28. They had no heart for talking, while they sat round the great fire-place, wherein a little fire had been built; holding on by each other’s hands, the while, without venturing to look up—or to speak a loud word—all ready to weep outright; if they opened their mouths; yet all afraid, and ashamed of their own weakness.
1844. Mem. Babylonian P’cess, II. 117. On reaching the different villages, however, we generally contrived to procure some lamb and poultry, which were soon cooked on a fire of sticks, kindled in a temporary fire-place constructed with loose stone.
