fire engine
- a vehicle equipped for firefighting, now usually a motor truck having a motor-driven pump for shooting water or chemical solutions at high pressure.
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Origin of fire engine
First recorded in 1670–80
Also called fire truck.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for fire engine
Contemporary Examples
Indeed, once the fire-engine house was taken, everybody seemed impressed by John Brown, rather than infuriated or vengeful.
Now that the fire-engine house was surrounded by the marines, he was certain nobody could escape.
There was Ann in her fire-engine Oscar de la Renta, straight out of the First Lady playbook.
Valerie Biden Owens Wears Givenchy Bird of Paradise Dress to Democratic National ConventionIsabel Wilkinson
September 7, 2012
But this fall specifically, a fire-engine coif is proving to be the must-have for the fashion pack.
Historical Examples
The first fire-engine used in Brooklyn, New York, is here shown.
Home Life in Colonial DaysAlice Morse Earle
But the Emperor, the fire-engine whom you said would quench any conflagration?
MichaelE. F. Benson
I directed the engineer to rig the fire-engine, and we soon drowned the decks with water.
Up the RiverOliver Optic
There was a fire-engine, but it was nearly half a mile from the lakeside settlement.
A Mortal AntipathyOliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Then he would be sure to need his fire-engine and the roller skates.
Sunny Boy in the CountryRamy Allison White
fire engine
- a heavy road vehicle that carries firefighters and firefighting equipment to a fire
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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