Cham′ber.
1. The place where a charge of powder is lodged in a fire-arm, cannon, mine, or blasthole. Howitzers and mortars have sub-caliber chambers.2. (Hydraulic Engineering.) The space between the gates of a canal-lock.
3. (Vehicle.) An indentation on the inner surface of an axle-box, to hold grease. 4. An apartment where sublimed objects are deposited, as sulphur, lamp-black, arsenic, zinc-white, mercury, and other condensible fumes.
5. (Dyeing.) A form of apparatus for steaming printed cloths, to fix the colors. (See steam-colors.) It is about 12 × 9 feet, and 9 feet high, the interior furnished with frames which run in and out upon rollers when the front door is open. The frames have cross-rods provided with tenter-hooks for suspending the cloths.
6. (Founding.) a. The portions of a mold which contain the exterior form, and which are closed over the core in casting hollow-ware. [525] b. An inclosed space, as the fire-chamber of a furnace. 7. A short piece of ordnance for making a noise at celebrations. 8. The part of a pump in which the bucket or plunger works. 9. A urinal for the bedroom.
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| Chamber-closet. |
