Definition

A person who works on very tall buildings or structures, like church steeples or smokestacks, often climbing to great heights to build, repair, or paint them.

Example

The steeplejack carefully climbed to the top of the church to fix the weather vane.

Conversation

Did you know that a steeplejack is someone who works on really high buildings?

Yeah, I've heard of that! It's a pretty dangerous job, isn't it?

Definitely! I can't imagine climbing up smokestacks like that.

Me neither! They must have nerves of steel to do that kind of work.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Steeplejack is formed from "steeple" (from Old English *stigpul*, meaning a structure or tower) and "jack" (from Middle English *jacke*, a diminutive form of John, often used to refer to a man or worker). The word describes a worker who climbs tall structures, particularly steeples, to perform maintenance or repairs.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'man' or 'worker' ('jack') who climbs a 'tower' or 'structure' ('steeple') to fix or maintain it — that's what a steeplejack does.

Visually Confused Words