fire hydrant

American  

noun

1. a hydrant for use in extinguishing fires.

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fire hydrant British  

noun

1. Also called (esp US and NZ): fireplug.  a hydrant for use as an emergency supply for fighting fires, esp one in a street

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Etymology

Origin of fire hydrant

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

In May, a well on the Pecos County property of Laura Briggs started spraying saltwater like a fire hydrant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

"We've lived here for 26 years and we've never seen it tested," he says about the fire hydrant at the end of his block that failed to draw water when it was needed most.

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2025

Firefighters began communicating over the radio about fire hydrant problems Tuesday night, just hours after the Eaton fire erupted.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2025

In a recent interview, Mr. Navarro recalled that, in a heated Oval Office argument, Mr. Cohn “lifted his leg on me,” making a gesture like a dog at a fire hydrant.

From New York Times • Dec. 4, 2024

They pulled into an empty spot next to a fire hydrant.

From "Goodbye Stranger" by Rebecca Stead