fire escape

American  

noun

1. an apparatus or structure used to escape from a burning building, as a metal stairway down an outside wall.

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fire escape British  

noun

1. a means of evacuating people from a building in the event of fire, esp a metal staircase outside the building

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Etymology

Origin of fire escape

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

How odd it is to hear Miss Genovese’s clipped voice here, on this fire escape, instead of in the switchboard room at Central.

From Literature

Looking up, I spotted what was supposed to be a fire escape partially detached from the wall and crumbling.

From Literature

The staffers trapped on the roof would run down the fire escape, then scale a wall at the back.

From BBC

Below her, the building’s fire escape was slowly emerging from the retreating water.

From Literature

The window to Anat’s room wasn’t hard to find, but rather than fly straight through, she landed on the fire escape a floor below so Anat wouldn’t see her change.

From Literature