ˈchimney-sweep
[see sweep v. and n.]
† 1. phr. The cry of a chimney-sweeper. Obs.
| 1611 Cotgr. s.v. Cheminée, Haut & bas la cheminée, chimney-sweepe; the crie of chimney-sweepers. |
2. = chimney-sweeper 1. (Now also simply sweep.) chimney-sweep's cancer: see next, 1 b.
| 1727 Swift Descr. Morning, The small-coal man was heard with cadence deep, Till drown'd in shriller notes of chimney-sweep. a 1845 Hood Doves & Crows iv, As fine as Chimney Sweeps in May. 1888 Sir M. Mackenzie Fredk. the Noble 41 A particular form of cancer..formerly..common enough in England, is now almost extinct..‘chimney sweep's cancer’. |
3. The name of a fly used in salmon-fishing.
| 1867 F. Francis Angling xii. (1880) 446 The Chimney Sweep..is the only thoroughly black fly I ever saw. |