fire escape

noun

1. an apparatus or structure used to escape from a burning building, as a metal stairway down an outside wall.

fire escape

noun

1. a means of evacuating people from a building in the event of fire, esp a metal staircase outside the building

Word History and Origins

Origin of fire escape¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

When I first started growing trees on my apartment fire escape in New York last year, I didn’t expect to mourn one of their deaths.

From Vox

The fire escape was equally useless, bending under the weight of those fleeing for their lives.

From Washington Post

Turn a fire escape into a temporary reading nook—because the set handily folds up, the pieces can be stored when not in use, ensuring spaces stay clear and safe during downtime.

From Popular-Science

We were already being over-surveilled in our building as is with 24, 24-7 HD recording cameras within every nook and cranny of these buildings except in our apartments and the fire escape stairs.

From MIT Technology Review

I had to climb through a concrete hole and down a welded fire escape ladder to get into the store.

From The Daily Beast

Tears streamed down his face as he left the stage, and for the next fifteen minutes he sat alone on a fire escape, weeping.

From The Daily Beast

Black Hood raised his eyes to the second story, marked the window which was nearest the fire escape at this point.

From Project Gutenberg

Lamb got out there, found the built-in fire escape, and got down to fourteen.

From Project Gutenberg

I leaped and caught the bottom rung of a fire escape, pulled myself up until I could get a foothold.

From Project Gutenberg

On the fire escape he saw Merrick, descending to the bottom with all possible rapidity.

From Project Gutenberg

Here was an iron fire escape, running from the fourth story to the second.

From Project Gutenberg