oast

[ ohst ]

noun

, Chiefly British.

1. a kiln for drying hops or malt.

oast

/ əʊst /

noun

1. a kiln for drying hops
2. Also calledoast house a building containing such kilns, usually having a conical or pyramidal roof

Word History and Origins

Origin of oast¹

before 1050; Middle English ost, Old English āst; cognate with Dutch eest

Word History and Origins

Origin of oast¹

Old English āst; related to Old Norse eisa fire

Example Sentences

I listened to it sitting in the hop-oast, whose tower, like a castle turret, overlooks and domineers the yard.

From Project Gutenberg

The farmers have been drying their damp wheat in the oast-houses over charcoal fires, and wages are lowered, and men discharged.

From Project Gutenberg

The road which we were using ran at right angles into a better-class way by the side of an old oast-house.

From Project Gutenberg

As we drew up at the fatal corner, the others came out of the oast-house to see what was making the noise.

From Project Gutenberg

“Oast-houses, where they dry the hops over a fire on horse-hair sheets,” said Mercer.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• furnace
• stove