smokestack
UK: ˈsməʊkstæk | US: ˈsmoʊkstæk
n. a tall chimney or vertical pipe for carrying smoke away from a factory, ship, or locomotive
The word "smokestack" is a compound formed in the early 19th century, combining "smoke" (Old English smoca, meaning "visible vapor from burning") and "stack" (Old Norse stakkr, meaning "pile" or "chimney"). It reflects the Industrial Revolution's need for efficient smoke dispersal from factories and steam engines. The term vividly captures the function of these structures—directing smoke upward in a concentrated column.
The factory's smokestack released thick black smoke into the sky.
The old steamship had two red-and-white striped smokestacks.
Environmental regulations now limit emissions from industrial smokestacks.
The abandoned mill's smokestack still stands as a relic of the past.
Birds often nest near the top of smokestacks, seeking warmth.