Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An arsonist; a pyromaniac.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An incendiary.
  • noun Same as cabbage-bug.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun a criminal who illegaly sets fire to property; an arsonist.
  • noun a brightly colored type of true bug that can exude a stain.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a common red and black insect of the family Pyrrhocoridae.
  • noun slang a pyromaniac or arsonist.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a criminal who illegally sets fire to property
  • noun a true bug: brightly colored bug that can exude a stain

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • During his time on remand, Williamson was called a firebug, told he would be jailed for life by prisoner officers, and initially locked up for 23 hours a day as a category A prisoner.

    The Guardian World News Helen Carter 2011

  • I am the real firebug, that is writing this letter.

    The Poisoned Pen 1908

  • I don't need a full Visual Studio. net app, but I want to see something about 5 steps better than firebug, that is responsive, and even more interactive.

    WordPress.com News 2008

  • I don't need a full Visual Studio. net app, but I want to see something about 5 steps better than firebug, that is responsive, and even more interactive.

    Usabilidoido [ feed completo ] 2008

  • Decent 'firebug' quality debugging for developers.

    Confession: I use Firefox 2007

  • Good analogy … he is like the "firebug" who starts a fire, then comes and helps put the fire out …

    Hot Air » Top Picks 2009

  • Good analogy … he is like the "firebug" who starts a fire, then comes and helps put the fire out … right2bright on March 6, 2009 at 9: 07 AM

    Hot Air » Top Picks 2009

  • I find it so much easier that I actually pop open firebug and make the change for the p and blockquote selectors in style. css (being too shortsighted to make the one time investment to script it in Greasemonkey or the like).

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Capitalization in Comments 2010

  • I'm a firebug too, (not arsonist), when's the next burn?

    'Tis the Season ... 2009

  • I'm a firebug too, (not arsonist), when's the next burn?

    'Tis the Season ... 2009

Comments

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  • The addict is wrapped in the dire hug

    Of mania felt as a higher tug.

    For twitchers it's birds,

    For others it's words

    Or smoke and bright flame for the firebug.

    April 23, 2017