Definition of the word furnace

The word "furnace" has its roots in Old French, where it was spelled "fournaise." This term was derived from the Latin "fornea," which referred to a brick oven used for baking. The Latin word in turn came from the Greek "fur nephew," meaning "oven" or "baker's stove." The original meaning of the word "furnace" referred to a cooking device, often a large oven or kiln used for firing ceramics, baking bread, or roasting meats. Over time, the term expanded to describe any device or system used for intense heat, such as a industrial furnace used for melting metals or generating steam. Today, the word "furnace" encompasses a wide range of applications, from household heating systems to industrial processing equipment.