DCHP-1 Online
firebreak 
1 n. any device for preventing the spread of fire.
- 1841 There are two streams crossing the street between Queen Street and the lane opposite Messrs. Codner & Jennings's firebreak, over which bridges similar to the above are required to be built.
2 n. a strip of land, usually ploughed but sometimes burned free of grass, intended to stop the advance of a grass fire or a prairie fire.
See also: fireguard ((n.)) (def. 1)
- 1889 Fires are raging around and the captain of the fire brigade had a fire break put round the village as he said prevention was worth two chemical extinguishers.
3 n. in the bush, a strip of land cleared of trees and brush and intended to stop the advance of a forest fire.
See also: fireguard ((n.)) (def. 2) fire-line (def. 2) guard (def. 3b) guard line
- 1935 The fire started . . . and a fire break had to be cut.
- 1959 Smoke billowed . . . along the Gaspe, where 600 men hacked out firebreaks to control two of Quebec's worst blazes this year.
- 1841 There are two streams crossing the street between Queen Street and the lane opposite Messrs. Codner & Jennings's firebreak, over which bridges similar to the above are required to be built.