Also 8 wyth, width, wieth, 8– withe. [? Corruption of WIDTH.] A partition between flues in a chimney stack: locally termed mid-feather.
1708. Act 7 Anne c. 17 § 10. All Withs the Inside of such Chimnies shall be Four Inches and an Half in Breadth.
1717. V. Mandey, Mellificium Mensionis (1727), 382. The Breasts and Wings, and Wieths [of the chimneys].
1734. Builder’s Dict., s.v. Chimney, If they [sc. the Chimney-Shafts] be wrought nine Inches thick,… then you must account your Thickness one Brick and half, in consideration of Wyths and Pargetting, and Trouble in Scaffolding.
1736. R. Neve, Builder’s Dict. (ed. 3), s.v. Chimney, In Consideration of the Widths, Pargeting, and Scaffolding.
1748. B. Langley, Lond. Prices, 327. The Widths of Chimneys.
1844. Act 7 & 8 Vict., c. 84. Sched. (F) The Breast of every Chimney, and the Front, Back, Withe, or Partition of every Flue, must be at the least Four Inches in Thickness of sound Bricks.
1905. Pract. Brickwork (ed. P. N. Hasluck), xii. 100. It will be necessary to tie in the withs on the stretching course.
