a. [f. FIRE sb. + PROOF a.] Proof against fire; incombustible.
a. 1638. Mede, Paraphr., 2 Pet. iii. App. Wks. (1672), III. 618. That such as had departed out of this life not fully purged of sin by Repentance here, should not be found Fire-proof at that day.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. iv. 159. Two pillars set up by the sons of Seth in Syria, the one of brick, fire-proof.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 184. To render Wood Fire-proof … or … incombustible.
18[?]. Moore, Case of Libel, x.
| We warn good men to keep aloft | |
| From a grim old Dandy, seen about | |
| With a fire-proof wig and a cloven hoof, | |
| Through a neat-cut Hoby smoking out. |
fig. 1830. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), II. 152. Perennial, fire-proof Joys, namely Employments.
Hence Fire-proof v. trans., to render proof against fire. Fire-proofing vbl. sb., a. the action or process of rendering fire-proof or incombustible; b. material for use in making anything fire-proof: c. attrib.
1867. A. Barry, Sir Charles Barry, vi. 167. The ‘fire-proofing’ ordered by the Government was all but nullified.
1883. Pall Mall G., 13 Dec., 3/2. He carefully examined my fire-proofing work on the dome [of St. Paul’s Cathedral].
1884. Health Exhib. Catal., 831. Models showing application of ‘Silicate Cotton’ for fire-proofing.
1887. Pall Mall G., 29 Oct., 5/1. With the aid of electric light and all the fire-proofing appliances of to-day.
