chimney sweep

noun

: a person whose occupation is cleaning soot from chimney flues

called also chimney sweeper

Examples of chimney sweep in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Angels dissolved into clouds, chimney sweeps became black blotches that seeped into toothy mice, then trailed over stars and Christmas hearts and trees. Thomas Korsgaard, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 Like a chimney sweep, a blacksmith is often covered in soot. Emily Langer, Washington Post, 23 June 2023 Very young children are sometimes leased out to serve as chimney sweeps, or to help with the harvest. Rivka Galchen, Harper's Magazine, 7 Jan. 2022 Bert, the chimney sweep. Sarah Schutte, National Review, 6 June 2021 Western Lake urges everyone with a fireplace to get yearly inspections from a qualified chimney sweep, working smoke detectors and a plan in case of a fire, said Haerter. Alex Groth, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2022 Other outfit choices at the event included a beagle dressed as a chimney sweep and Maltese in a blue ball gown. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 7 Dec. 2021 As March approaches, be sure to include hiring a professional chimney sweep to your spring cleaning list. Isabel Garcia, House Beautiful, 9 Feb. 2021 As someone who came out of the NFL and lost everything and was a chimney sweep for a few months, a security guard at night. Marisa Schultz, Fox News, 13 Dec. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chimney sweep.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chimney sweep was in 1727

Dictionary Entries Near chimney sweep

Cite this Entry

“Chimney sweep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chimney%20sweep. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

chimney sweep

noun
: a person who cleans soot from chimneys

More from Merriam-Webster on chimney sweep

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