from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Furnace \Fur"nace\, n. [OE. fornais, forneis, OF. fornaise, F.
fournaise, from L. fornax; akin to furnus oven, and prob. to
E. forceps.]
1. An inclosed place in which heat is produced by the
combustion of fuel, as for reducing ores or melting
metals, for warming a house, for baking pottery, etc.; as,
an iron furnace; a hot-air furnace; a glass furnace; a
boiler furnace, etc.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Furnaces are classified as wind or air. furnaces when
the fire is urged only by the natural draught; as blast
furnaces, when the fire is urged by the injection
artificially of a forcible current of air; and as
reverberatory furnaces, when the flame, in passing to
the chimney, is thrown down by a low arched roof upon
the materials operated upon.
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2. A place or time of punishment, affiction, or great trial;
severe experience or discipline. --Deut. iv. 20.
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{Bustamente furnace}, a shaft furnace for roasting
quicksilver ores.
{Furnace bridge}, Same as {Bridge wall}. See {Bridge}, n., 5.
{Furnace cadmiam} or {Furnace cadmia}, the oxide of zinc
which accumulates in the chimneys of furnaces smelting
zinciferous ores. --Raymond.
{Furnace hoist} (Iron Manuf.), a lift for raising ore, coal,
etc., to the mouth of a blast furnace.
[1913 Webster]