chimney

Etymology

From Middle English chymeney, chymney, chymne, from Old French cheminee, from Late Latin camīnāta, from Latin camīnus, from Ancient Greek κάμῑνος (kámīnos, “furnace”). Doublet of chimenea.

noun

1. A vertical tube or hollow column used to emit environmentally polluting gaseous and solid matter (including but not limited to by-products of burning carbon- or hydrocarbon-based fuels); a flue.
   Witches always anointed themselves with ointments before departing up the chimney to their Sabbaths. 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 112
2. The glass flue surrounding the flame of an oil lamp.
3. (Britain) The smokestack of a steam locomotive.
4. A narrow cleft in a rock face; a narrow vertical cave passage.
5. (vulgar, euphemistic) A vagina.
6. (Northern Ireland, slang) A black eye; a shiner.

verb

1. (climbing) To negotiate a chimney (narrow vertical cave passage) by pushing against the sides with back, feet, hands, etc.