Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A crown duty formerly paid in England for each chimney in a house. Also called hearth-money.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A tax formerly paid on all chimneys in England.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • If perchance thou hast forgotten, mayhap 'tis proper to quote it: "Every fire-hearth and stove of every dwelling, and other house within England and Wales, except as pay not to Church and poor, shall be chargeable with two shillings per annum, payable at Michaelmas and Lady-Day, to the king and his heirs, which payment is vulgarly called chimney-money."

    Why Democracy May Not Be Such A Great Idea After All 2007

  • They clamour against the chimney-money, and say they will not pay it without force.

    Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete Samuel Pepys 1668

  • They clamour against the chimney-money, and say they will not pay it without force.

    Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete 1662 N.S. Samuel Pepys 1668

  • By coach with both Sir Williams to Westminster; this being a great day there in the House to pass the business for chimney-money, which was done.

    Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete 1662 N.S. Samuel Pepys 1668

  • By coach with both Sir Williams to Westminster; this being a great day there in the House to pass the business for chimney-money, which was done.

    Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 15: March/April 1661-62 Samuel Pepys 1668

  • By coach with both Sir Williams to Westminster; this being a great day there in the House to pass the business for chimney-money, which was done.

    Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete Samuel Pepys 1668

  • They clamour against the chimney-money, and say they will not pay it without force.

    Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 16: May/June 1662 Samuel Pepys 1668

  • They clamour against the chimney-money, and say they will not pay it without force.

    The Diary of Samuel Pepys, May/Jun 1662 Pepys, Samuel 1662

  • By coach with both Sir Williams to Westminster; this being a great day there in the House to pass the business for chimney-money, which was done.

    The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Mar/Apr 1661/62 Pepys, Samuel 1662

  • 'tis credibly reported _he raises more in a year by contributions à-la-mode de France than the king's land taxes and chimney-money come to, and thereby is enabled to bribe clerks and officers_, IF NOT THEIR

    Rookwood William Harrison Ainsworth 1843

Comments

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  • I refuse to pay my chimney taxes.

    September 29, 2011

  • Don't be so hearthless.

    September 29, 2011