ˈhouse-warming
1. lit. The warming or heating of a house; in quot. (?) fuel for warming a house.
| c 1150 in Registr. Monast. de Winchelcumba (1892) 81 Concessit, etiam nobis..husbote et heibote et huswerminge. |
2. The action of celebrating the entrance into the occupation of a new house or home with a feast or entertainment.
b. The entertainment given on such an occasion.
| 1577 Fleetwood in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. III. 56 The Shomakers of London, having builded..a newe Hall, made a royall feast for theire frends, which they call their howse warming. 1661 Evelyn Diary 28 Nov., I dined at Chiffinch's house-warming, in St. James's Park. 1678 Dryden Limberham v. i. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 518 ¶1, I must make the present entertainment like a treat at an house-warming, out of such presents as have been sent me by my guests. 1880 Mrs. J. H. Riddell Palace Gard. ii. (1881) 21 We shall have to give a house-warming, I suppose. |
| attrib. 1844 J. T. J. Hewlett Parsons & W. xxxiv, He had given the usual house-warming dinner. |