inglenook

in·gle·nook
I1N1G2L1E1N1O1O1K5
UK/ˈɪŋɡ(ə)lnʊk/US/ˈɪŋɡəlˌnʊk/

noun

A nook or corner beside an open fireplace; a chimney corner.

UncommonScrabble 14

Meanings

nouninglenook (plural inglenooks)

plural inglenooks · alternative ingle nook · alternative ingle-nook

  1. historicalarchitectureA nook or corner beside an open fireplace; a chimney corner.

    The ingle-nook ſupplies the ſimmer-fields, / An' aft as mony gleefu' maments yields.

    1799, Robert Fergusson, “An Eclogue. […]”, in The Poetical Works of R. Fergusson, Paisley, Renfrewshire: R. Smith, […], →OCLC, page 80
    5 more examples

    I ſat me in the ingle nook, / And joked wi my luver, / But a' the jokes that I cou'd crack, / The deel a ane could muve her.

    1797 May, E. S. J., “A Song”, in Sylvanus Urban [pseudonym; Edward Cave], editor, The Gentleman’s Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, volume LXVII, part I, number V, London: […] John Nichols, […], →OCLC, page 423, column 2

    Could we find a Hamilton to write a tale in Gaelic, for the ingle-nooks of our cottagers, we might expect a speedy reform. The Highlanders are fond of tales, and there does not seem to be a better method of pointing out to them the advantages of activity and cleanliness, than dispersing among them a few stories drawn up with ability.

    1813, George Steuart Mackenzie, “Political Economy”, in General View of the Agriculture of the Counties of Ross and Cromarty. […], London: […] Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, […], →OCLC, section 8 (Healthiness of the Country, Mode of Living, &c.), pages 326–327

    May the Forest still flourish, both Borough and Landward, / From the hall of the Peer to the herd's ingle-nook; / And huzza! my brave hearts, for Buccleuch and his standard, / For the King and the Country, the Clan and the Duke.

    1815 December 1, [Walter Scott; James Hogg], “The Lifting of the Banner”, in The Ettricke Garland; being Two Excellent New Songs on the Lifting of the Banner of the House of Buccleuch, at the Great Foot-ball Match on Carterhaugh, Dec. 4, 1815, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co., →OCLC, page 5

    [O]ne [chair], distinguished by capacious arms, a high stuffed back, and red cushions, was placed close to the ingle nook, the accustomed seat of the father of the family.

    1822 May 1, “The Smuggler”, in The Atheneum; or, Spirit of the English Magazines, volume 11, Boston, Mass.: Munroe and Francis, […], →OCLC, page 103, column 1

    Alice was removed to the residence of the older Noland, where she was welcomed with a rough but honest kindness, and old Margaret was installed in the ingle nook.

    1838 December 22, “the Old Sailor” [pseudonym], “Robin Hood’s Bay”, in William, Robert Chambers, editors, Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal, volume VII, number 360, Edinburgh: […] W[illiam] S[omerville] Orr and Co., […], published 1839, →OCLC, page 378, column 2

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna corner by a fireplace

Broader

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From ingle (“open fireplace”) + nook.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 爐邊 /炉边
  • 爐邊 /炉边 (lúbiān)nook or corner beside an open fireplace; chimney corner
German Kaminecke
  • Kamineckenook or corner beside an open fireplace; chimney corner
Hungarian sut
  • sutnook or corner beside an open fireplace; chimney corner
Irish clúid
  • clúidnook or corner beside an open fireplace; chimney corner
Polish zapiecek, krzesło przy zapiecku
  • zapieceknook or corner beside an open fireplace; chimney corner
  • krzesło przy zapieckubench or seat placed in a fireplace inglenook
Welsh cornel simnai
  • cornel simnainook or corner beside an open fireplace; chimney corner
Cite this entry
APA

inglenook. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inglenook

MLA

“inglenook.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inglenook. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “inglenook,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inglenook.

Source: inglenook on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.