"Steeplejack" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
A steeplejack is a person who climbs and maintains the steeple and other high parts of churches, clock towers, and other tall buildings, usually for repairs or maintenance purposes. They use specialized equipment, such as ladders, ropes, and harnesses, to access these hard-to-reach areas.
Historically, steeplejacks were also known for their role in repairing and removing old or damaged church steeples, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. They would climb the steeples to inspect and repair them, often using local iron beams and other materials to reinforce the structures.
The term "steeplejack" has also been used as a synonym for a cooper, a person who builds, repairs, and maintains chimneys and other wooden structures, including those on churches and other tall buildings.
The verb "steepens" is the third person singular form of the verb "steep", which means to soak or submerge something, typically food or herbs, in a liquid, especially a hot one, for a long time in order to extract flavor or medicinal properties.<br><br>Example: "The tea steepens for five minutes."
The lower deck of an old-fashioned ship, where the cheapest class of passengers was accommodated.<br><br>Example: "The immigrants traveled in steerage aboard the ocean liner."<br><br>Synonyms: third-class, tourist class, economy class.<br><br>Antonym: first-class, cabin class.