scathefire

English

Alternative forms

• scathe-fire, scathe fire

Etymology

From scathe +‎ fire. Compare German Schadenfeuer (“fire damage”). See also scarefire.

Noun

scathefire (plural scathefires)

1. (obsolete) Destructive flames; a conflagration.
   • 1845, John Bramhall, The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, John Bramhall:

     A title so clear, as if it were “written with a beam of the sliny;” which no true Englishman in his right wits did ever yet oppose, but one or two foreign pensioners, maintained on purpose abroad to kindle scathfires at home, who gained nothing by the question but to render themselves ridiculous.

   • 1874 (original 1611), Dramatic Works of Thomas Heywood:

     Beneath their ruines: and these horrid sights / Lighted by scathe-fires, they that haue beheld […]

   • 1901, Albert Le Roy Bartlett, A Golden Way:

     Richard II, in 1385, and Henry VIII, in 1545, each wrecked it, and after this last scathe-fire it was rebuilt no more.

   • 2012, Elizabeth Moon, Echoes of Betrayal:

     You will give them my order to proceed to the scathefire track, with rangers you will find as guides, and parallel the Pargunese, ... The other will parallel the scathefire track until even with the Pargunese and stay even with them as they move.

   • 2013, Trishia Parson, Arcana:

     Any escaping villagers would be killed. She had heard of scathefires but fortunately her village had not been targeted.

   • 2014, Henry Burton, C. Matthew McMahon, Therese B. McMahon, The Law and the Gospel Reconciled:

     How much more in extremities of more importance, as the quenching of a scathe fire, or defending of a city, or country, by repelling the invading or beleaguering enemy?

See also

• scarefire