Firescreen

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A protective panel placed in front of a fireplace to shield from sparks and heat
2. A screen used before a hearth to guard against flying embers and reduce heat exposure
3. A device set before a fire to prevent sparks from escaping and to offer a layer of safety

Etymology: A firescreen is about as transparent as compounds get: "fire" plus "screen," with the second word doing the work of a physical barrier. The earlier form, Middle English "fire screnne," shows the same pairing already in place, and the device it names is what the pieces suggest: a panel or guard placed between a hearth and the room so that embers and sparks stay put. The word "screen" itself traces back to a sense of shelter or protection, which is why it fits here so neatly. A screen was first something that shielded a person from wind, heat or glare before it became a partition or an object used for display. The firescreen kept that protective job, applied to the one danger a domestic fireplace reliably posed, flying sparks onto carpets, clothing and floorboards.

Synonyms: fireguard, screen, fireplace screen, fireplace guard, fire shield