In historic and modern usage, a
hearth is a
brick- or
stone-lined
fireplace, with or without an
oven, used for
heating and originally also used for
cooking food. For centuries, the hearth was such an integral part of a
home, usually its central and most important feature, that the concept has been generalized to refer to a homeplace or household, as in the terms "hearth and home" and "keep the home fires burning".