Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A fire-insurance office.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word fire-office.

Examples

  • I walked to the door with the bearing of one who had it in his power to place a man in a high position, say in the fire-office.

    Hunger 2003

  • The sum (no inconsiderable one) for which the house was insured in the fire-office was by law not payable in full until another house should be built in its place.

    The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 1, April, 1851 Various

  • I walked to the door with the bearing of one who had it in his power to place a man in a high position, say in the fire-office.

    Hunger Knut Hamsun 1905

  • He turned away as he spoke; and the dame, kindling with resentment at his unseemly return to her proffered kindness, hallooed after him, and bade that dark-coloured gentleman who keeps the fire-office below go along with him.

    Paul Clifford — Complete Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

  • He turned away as he spoke; and the dame, kindling with resentment at his unseemly return to her proffered kindness, hallooed after him, and bade that dark-coloured gentleman who keeps the _fire-office_ below go along with him.

    Paul Clifford — Volume 01 Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

  • (This is one reason why you can seldom recover from a fire-office without litigation.) 3rd.

    Diary in America, Series One Frederick Marryat 1820

  • Folks don't use to meet for amusement with firearms, firelocks, fire-engines, fire-screens, fire-office, and the devil knows what other crackers beside!

    The Rivals A Comedy Richard Brinsley Sheridan 1783

  • And now I should be glad to enlarge upon that experience in genteel life which I obtained through the perseverance of Mrs. Hoggarty; but it must be owned that my opportunities were but few, lasting only for the brief period of six months: and also, genteel society has been fully described already by various authors of novels, whose names need not here be set down, but who, being themselves connected with the aristocracy, viz., as members of noble families, or as footmen or hangers-on thereof, naturally understand their subject a great deal better than a poor young fellow from a fire-office can.

    The Great Hoggarty Diamond 2006

  • He was the only appren - itice of Mr. Robert Dodsley 5 was afteinvards 40yeai's a bookseller at Charing Cross, and 18 years director of the Westminster de - partment of the Phcunix fire-office.

    Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century: Comprising Biographical Memoirs of William Bowyer ... 1812

  • -- it is to be a stately, pompous plunge into the subject, after the Milverton fashion: -- "Friendship and the Phoenix, taking into due account the fire-office of that name, have been found upon the earth in not unsimilar abundance."

    Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 423 Volume 17, New Series, February 7, 1852 Various 1841

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.