1. (Myth.) A monster represented as vomiting flames, and as having the head of a lion, the body of a
goat, and the tail of a dragon. "Dire chimeras and enchanted isles." Milton.
2. A vain, foolish, or incongruous fancy, or creature of the imagination; as, the chimera of an author.
Burke.
Chimere
(Chi*mere") n. [OF. chamarre., F. simarre fr. Sp. chamarra, zamarra, a coat made of sheepskins,
a sheepskin, perh. from Ar. sammur the Scythian weasel or marten, the sable. Cf. Simarre.] The
upper robe worn by a bishop, to which lawn sleeves are usually attached. Hook.
Chimeric
(Chi*mer"ic) a. Chimerical.
Chimerical
(Chi*mer"ic*al) a. Merely imaginary; fanciful; fantastic; wildly or vainly conceived; having, or
capable of having, no existence except in thought; as, chimerical projects.
Syn. — Imaginary; fanciful; fantastic; wild; unfounded; vain; deceitful; delusive.
Chimerically
(Chi*mer"ic*al*ly), adv. Wildy; vainly; fancifully.
Chiminage
(Chim"i*nage) n. [OF. cheminage, fr. chemin way, road.] (Old Law) A toll for passage
through a forest. [Obs.] Cowell.
Chimney
(Chim"ney), n.; pl. Chimneys [F. cheminée, LL. caminata, fr. L. caminus furnace, fireplace,
Gr. furnace, oven.]
1. A fireplace or hearth. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
2. That part of a building which contains the smoke flues; esp. an upright tube or flue of brick or stone,
in most cases extending through or above the roof of the building. Often used instead of chimney shaft.
Hard by a cottage chimney smokes.
Milton.
3. A tube usually of glass, placed around a flame, as of a lamp, to create a draft, and promote combustion.
4. (Min.) A body of ore, usually of elongated form, extending downward in a vein. Raymond.
Chimney board, a board or screen used to close a fireplace; a fireboard. — Chimney cap, a device
to improve the draught of a chimney, by presenting an exit aperture always to leeward. — Chimney
corner, the space between the sides of the fireplace and the fire; hence, the fireside. — Chimney
hook, a hook for holding pats and kettles over a fire, — Chimney money, hearth money, a duty formerly
paid in England for each chimney. — Chimney pot (Arch.), a cylinder of earthenware or sheet metal
placed at the top of a chimney which rises above the roof. — Chimney swallow. (Zoöl.) (a) An American
swift (Chæture pelasgica) which lives in chimneys. (b) In England, the common swallow — Chimney
sweep, Chimney sweeper, one who cleans chimneys of soot; esp. a boy who climbs the flue, and
brushes off the soot.
Chimney-breast
(Chim"ney-breast`) n. (Arch.) The horizontal projection of a chimney from the wall in
which it is built; — commonly applied to its projection in the inside of a building only.
Chimney-piece
(Chim"ney-piece`) n. (Arch.) A decorative construction around the opening of a fireplace.
Chimpanzee
(Chim*pan"zee) n. [From the native name: cf. F. chimpanzé, chimpansé, chimpanzée.] (Zoöl.)
An african ape (Anthropithecus troglodytes or Troglodytes niger) which approaches more nearly to man,
in most respects, than any other ape. When full grown, it is from three to four feet high.
