fire tail (firtal)

1. A hymenopterous insect of the family Chrysidida, such as the ruby tailed fly, Chrysis ignita.- 2. The redstart or redtail, Ruticilla phænicura, a bird. Also fire flirt. [Local, Eng.] fire-telegraph (fir tele-graf), n. A telegraph to announce the outbreak of fire to different parts of a city, by means of signal-boxes placed at convenient points. fire-tower (fir'tou"ėr), n. [Cf. D. vuurtoren = G. feuerthurm (rare) = Dan. fyrtaarn = Sw. fyrtorn, a lighthouse.] 1. An erection with an iron ve el on its top for holding fire or a flame, answering the purpose of a lighthouse.-2. A tower from which to watch for the outbreak of fire in a city, and to give the alarm by the ringing of a bell: now generally superseded by the fire-telegraph.