Also spelled hearth-stone and hearthstun
Meanings
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1
noun
a flat stone forming part or all of a hearth
The kettle stood on the warm hearthstone beside the fire.
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2
noun
the fireside or home, especially as a symbol of domestic life
After years abroad, he longed to return to his own hearthstone.
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3
noun
a soft stone or prepared block formerly used for whitening steps and scouring floors
The maid rubbed the doorstep with hearthstone until the surface looked pale and clean.
Thesaurus
Etymology
A compound of hearth + stone. It first denotes the literal stone slab beside or beneath a domestic fire; by association the hearthstone came to represent the home itself. A separate historical use names a soft scouring material used on hearths, floors, and doorsteps.