firetrap

American  

[fahyuhr-trap] / ˈfaɪərˌtræp /

noun

1. a building that, because of its age, material, structure, or the like, is especially dangerous in case of fire.

2. (in a building) any arrangement of structural, flooring, and finish members creating concealed passages through which fire can spread to other parts of the building.

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firetrap British  

/ ˈfaɪəˌtræp /

noun

1. a building that would burn easily or one without fire escapes

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Etymology

Origin of firetrap

First recorded in 1880–85; fire + trap ¹

Example Sentences

Within a few decades, that facility had also become overcrowded, and in 1957 city officials ordered it condemned because the surplus of people and shortage of emergency exits made it a firetrap.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2023

Seattleites watched that scene with horror and fascination as their firetrap of a city burned.

From Seattle Times • May 30, 2019

“The women and children’s shelter in Cairo was an old, dilapidated firetrap of a house. It wasn’t suitable to have anybody in it, even for a night,” Glenn said.

From Washington Times • May 6, 2017

Beams were “staying up from force of habit only,” he was informed, and the mansion had become a firetrap.

From New York Times • May 9, 2015

His office was in Staten Island in a two-family firetrap just four blocks away from the ferry stop and only one block south of a supermarket, three beauty parlors, and two corrupt druggists.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller