A chimney is a vertical structure that carries smoke and gases from a fireplace, stove, or furnace out of a building. It helps keep the air inside safe and clear.
“Chimney” comes from Old French “cheminée,” meaning fireplace, from Latin “caminus,” meaning furnace or fireplace. The meaning shifted from the fire itself to the structure that carries the smoke away.
Originally, “chimney” was more about the place of the fire than the stack of bricks above it. As houses changed, the smoke channel became more important than the open flame. The Santa story leans on old houses where the chimney really was the heart of the home.
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