Definition of Fire-eater

1. Noun. A member of a fire department who tries to extinguish fires.

Exact synonyms: Fire Fighter, Firefighter, Fireman
Group relationships: Fire Department
Generic synonyms: Defender, Guardian, Protector, Shielder
Specialized synonyms: Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, Fire Warden, Forest Fire Fighter, Ranger

2. Noun. A belligerent grouch.
Exact synonyms: Hothead
Generic synonyms: Churl, Crank, Crosspatch, Grouch, Grump

3. Noun. A performer who pretends to swallow fire.
Exact synonyms: Fire-swallower
Generic synonyms: Performer, Performing Artist

Definition of Fire-eater

1. Noun. A performer who pretends to swallow fire. ¹

2. Noun. (figuratively) A quarrelsome or belligerent person. ¹

3. Noun. (US historical) An extreme partisan for the South before the US Civil War. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Fire-eater

fiques
fir
fir-cone
fir-cones
fir clubmoss
fir clubmosses
fir cone
fir tree
fire
fire-bellied toad
fire-breather
fire-breathers
fire-breathing
fire-bush
fire-eater (current term)
fire-eaters
fire-engine
fire-fanged
fire-new
fire-on-the-mountain
fire-proof
fire-raising
fire-resistant
fire-resisting
fire-resistive
fire-retardant
fire-sale
fire-stop
fire-swallower

Literary usage of Fire-eater

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. An American Glossary by Richard Hopwood Thornton (1912)
"The fire-eaters of South Carolina and Georgia precipitated the Civil War. 1847 He is a regular fire-eater ; can hit the ace of hearts, nine down one of the ..."

2. The Reminiscences and Recollections of Captain Gronow: Being Anecdotes of by Rees Howell Gronow, Joseph Grego (1892)
"A fire-eater COWED.—A singular incident occurred at the Cafe Francais in 1816, at the corner ... FIREEATER ..."

3. London by Charles Knight (1851)
"This was probably a re^-l fire-eater, to whom hot coals in his mouth were a daily bread. We have had n<> such men since the great Mr. Powell, who, ..."

4. Personal Sketches of His Own Times by Jonah Barrington (1827)
"... nine officers at once— His elucidation of the fire-eater's Resolutions—Lord Kilkenny's memorable duels and law-suits—His Lordship is shot by Mr. Ball, ..."

5. Curiosities of Natural History by Francis Trevelyan Buckland (1882)
""The fire-eater, or the celebrated living salamander," growled out a deep voice close under the wheel of the drag, while I was speaking to a friend. ..."

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