n. [ OE. anderne, aunderne, aundyre, OF. andier, F. landier, fr. LL. andena, andela, anderia, of unknown origin. The Eng. was prob. confused with brand-iron, AS. brand-īsen. ] A utensil for supporting wood when burning in a fireplace, one being placed on each side; a firedog; as, a pair of andirons. [ 1913 Webster ]

See under Iron. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Instruments used in taking off the bark of trees. Gardner. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A pair of pistols. [ Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Bickern. ] A bickern; a bench anvil with a long beak, adapted to reach the interior surfaces of sheet metal ware; the horn of an anvil. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A hollow smoothing iron containing a heater within. [ 1913 Webster ]

An iron to brand with. [ 1913 Webster ]

. 1. A branding iron. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A trivet to set a pot on. Huloet. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The horizontal bar of an andiron. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Arch.) A strong flat bar of iron, so bent as to support, as in a stirrup, one end of a floor timber, etc., where no sufficient bearing can be had; -- called also stirrup and hanger. [ 1913 Webster ]

Highly carbonized iron, the direct product of the blast furnace; -- used for making castings, and for conversion into wrought iron and steel. It can not be welded or forged, is brittle, and sometimes very hard. Besides carbon, it contains sulphur, phosphorus, silica, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Made of cast iron. Hence, Fig.: like cast iron; hardy; unyielding. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; chei`r hand + &unr_; to manage. ] The art of moving the hands in oratory or in pantomime; gesture [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Cob the top. ] An andiron with a knob at the top. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

See Cramp, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Environed p. pr. & vb. n. Environing. ] [ F. environner, fr. environ about, thereabout; pref. en- (L. in) + OF. viron circle, circuit, fr. OF. & F. virer to turn, LL. virare to turn up and down, topsy-turvy. Cf. Veer. ] To surround; to encompass; to encircle; to hem in; to be round about; to involve or envelop. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dwelling in a pleasant glade,
With mountains round about environed. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Environed he was with many foes. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Environ me with darkness whilst I write. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ F. ] About; around. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Lord Godfrey's eye three times environ goes. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. environnement. ] 1. Act of environing; state of being environed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which environs or surrounds; surrounding conditions, influences, or forces, by which living forms are influenced and modified in their growth and development. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is no friendly environment, this of thine. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. of or pertaining to the environment; as, environmental factors. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. of or pertaining to the environment (definition 2); as, environmental pollution; environmental disaster; environmental cleanup; environmental deterioration. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

THOUSANDS of dead fish and other marine species, suffocated by a rotting, glutinous morass which spreads over kilometres of coral reefs.
This scenario has all the hallmarks of a unnatural environmental disaster resulting from environmental negligence. However this isn't the case, instead the cause -- coral spawn slick deoxygenation -- is a natural event which has the potential to occur periodically on the reefs of the West Pilbara. Michael Borowitzka (“Natural event spawns environmental disaster” in Murdoch News, October 12, 1995)

n. pl. [ F. ] The parts or places which surround another place, or lie in its neighborhood; suburbs; as, the environs of a city or town. Chesterfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An iron with a flat, smooth surface for ironing clothes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. Girondiste. ] A member of the moderate republican party formed in the French legislative assembly in 1791. The Girondists were so called because their leaders were deputies from the department of La Gironde. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the Girondists. [ Written also Girondin. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. gredire, gredirne, from the same source as E. griddle, but the ending was confused with E. iron. See Griddle. ] 1. A grated iron utensil for broiling flesh and fish over coals. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) An openwork frame on which vessels are placed for examination, cleaning, and repairs.

3. (Sport) A football field; -- so called because of the resemblance of the parallel marked yard lines to a gridiron{ 1 }. [ PJC ]

Gridiron pendulum. See under Pendulum. --
Gridiron valve (Steam Engine), a slide valve with several parallel perforations corresponding to openings in the seat on which the valve moves. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a lizard having a long tail with black bands (Callisaurus draconoides), which lives in the deserts of the southwestern U. S. and Mexico; called also zebra-tailed lizard. RHUD [ PJC ]

1. A tool with a hardened steel point, formerly used instead of a diamond for cutting glass. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Plumbing) A tool for smoothing the solder joints of lead pipe. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Andiron. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ F. harper to grasp strongly. See Harpoon. ] A harpoon. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. iren, AS. īren, īsen, īsern; akin to D. ijzer, OS. īsarn, OHG. īsarn, īsan, G. eisen, Icel. īsarn, jārn, Sw. & Dan. jern, and perh. to E. ice; cf. Ir. iarann, W. haiarn, Armor. houarn. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Chem.) The most common and most useful metallic element, being of almost universal occurrence, usually in the form of an oxide (as hematite, magnetite, etc.), or a hydrous oxide (as limonite, turgite, etc.). It is reduced on an enormous scale in three principal forms; viz., cast iron, steel, and wrought iron. Iron usually appears dark brown, from oxidation or impurity, but when pure, or on a fresh surface, is a gray or white metal. It is easily oxidized (rusted) by moisture, and is attacked by many corrosive agents. Symbol Fe (Latin Ferrum). Atomic number 26, atomic weight 55.847. Specific gravity, pure iron, 7.86; cast iron, 7.1. In magnetic properties, it is superior to all other substances. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The value of iron is largely due to the facility with which it can be worked. Thus, when heated it is malleable and ductile, and can be easily welded and forged at a high temperature. As cast iron, it is easily fusible; as steel, is very tough, and (when tempered) very hard and elastic. Chemically, iron is grouped with cobalt and nickel. Steel is a variety of iron containing more carbon than wrought iron, but less that cast iron. It is made either from wrought iron, by roasting in a packing of carbon (cementation) or from cast iron, by burning off the impurities in a Bessemer converter (then called Bessemer steel), or directly from the iron ore (as in the Siemens rotatory and generating furnace). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An instrument or utensil made of iron; -- chiefly in composition; as, a flatiron, a smoothing iron, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

My young soldier, put up your iron. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. Fetters; chains; handcuffs; manacles. [ 1913 Webster ]

Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Strength; power; firmness; inflexibility; as, to rule with a rod of iron. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Golf) An iron-headed club with a deep face, chiefly used in making approaches, lifting a ball over hazards, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Bar iron. See Wrought iron (below). --
Bog iron, bog ore; limonite. See Bog ore, under Bog. --
Cast iron (Metal.), an impure variety of iron, containing from three to six percent of carbon, part of which is united with a part of the iron, as a carbide, and the rest is uncombined, as graphite. It there is little free carbon, the product is white iron; if much of the carbon has separated as graphite, it is called gray iron. See also Cast iron, in the Vocabulary. --
Fire irons. See under Fire, n. --
Gray irons. See under Fire, n. --
Gray iron. See Cast iron (above). --
It irons (Naut.), said of a sailing vessel, when, in tacking, she comes up head to the wind and will not fill away on either tack. --
Magnetic iron. See Magnetite. --
Malleable iron (Metal.), iron sufficiently pure or soft to be capable of extension under the hammer; also, specif., a kind of iron produced by removing a portion of the carbon or other impurities from cast iron, rendering it less brittle, and to some extent malleable. --
Meteoric iron (Chem.), iron forming a large, and often the chief, ingredient of meteorites. It invariably contains a small amount of nickel and cobalt. Cf. Meteorite. --
Pig iron, the form in which cast iron is made at the blast furnace, being run into molds, called pigs. --
Reduced iron. See under Reduced. --
Specular iron. See Hematite. --
Too many irons in the fire, too many objects or tasks requiring the attention at once. --
White iron. See Cast iron (above). --
Wrought iron (Metal.), the purest form of iron commonly known in the arts, containing only about half of one per cent of carbon. It is made either directly from the ore, as in the Catalan forge or bloomery, or by purifying (puddling) cast iron in a reverberatory furnace or refinery. It is tough, malleable, and ductile. When formed into bars, it is called bar iron. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. īren, īsen. See Iron, n. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Of, or made of iron; consisting of iron; as, an iron bar, dust. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Resembling iron in color; as, iron blackness. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Like iron in hardness, strength, impenetrability, power of endurance, insensibility, etc.; as:

(a) Rude; hard; harsh; severe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Iron years of wars and dangers. Rowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jove crushed the nations with an iron rod. Pope.

(b) Firm; robust; enduring; as, an iron constitution.

(c) Inflexible; unrelenting; as, an iron will.

(d) Not to be broken; holding or binding fast; tenacious. “Him death's iron sleep oppressed.” Philips. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Iron is often used in composition, denoting made of iron, relating to iron, of or with iron; producing iron, etc.; resembling iron, literally or figuratively, in some of its properties or characteristics; as, iron-shod, iron-sheathed, iron-fisted, iron-framed, iron-handed, iron-hearted, iron foundry or iron-foundry. [ 1913 Webster ]

Iron age. (a) (Myth.) The age following the golden, silver, and bronze ages, and characterized by a general degeneration of talent and virtue, and of literary excellence. In Roman literature the Iron Age is commonly regarded as beginning after the taking of Rome by the Goths, A. D. 410. (b) (Archæol.) That stage in the development of any people characterized by the use of iron implements in the place of the more cumbrous stone and bronze. --
Iron cement, a cement for joints, composed of cast-iron borings or filings, sal ammoniac, etc. --
Iron clay (Min.), a yellowish clay containing a large proportion of an ore of iron. --
Iron cross, a German, and before that Prussian, order of military merit; also, the decoration of the order. --
Iron crown, a golden crown set with jewels, belonging originally to the Lombard kings, and indicating the dominion of Italy. It was so called from containing a circle said to have been forged from one of the nails in the cross of Christ. --
Iron flint (Min.), an opaque, flintlike, ferruginous variety of quartz. --
Iron founder, a maker of iron castings. --
Iron foundry, the place where iron castings are made. --
Iron furnace, a furnace for reducing iron from the ore, or for melting iron for castings, etc.; a forge; a reverberatory; a bloomery. --
Iron glance (Min.), hematite. --
Iron hat, a headpiece of iron or steel, shaped like a hat with a broad brim, and used as armor during the Middle Ages. --
Iron horse, a locomotive engine. [ Colloq. ] --
Iron liquor, a solution of an iron salt, used as a mordant by dyers. --
Iron man (Cotton Manuf.), a name for the self-acting spinning mule. --
Iron mold or
Iron mould, a yellow spot on cloth stained by rusty iron. --
Iron ore (Min.), any native compound of iron from which the metal may be profitably extracted. The principal ores are magnetite, hematite, siderite, limonite, Göthite, turgite, and the bog and clay iron ores. --
Iron pyrites (Min.), common pyrites, or pyrite. See Pyrites. --
Iron sand, an iron ore in grains, usually the magnetic iron ore, formerly used to sand paper after writing. --
Iron scale, the thin film which forms on the surface of wrought iron in the process of forging. It consists essentially of the magnetic oxide of iron, Fe3O4. --
Iron works, a furnace where iron is smelted, or a forge, rolling mill, or foundry, where it is made into heavy work, such as shafting, rails, cannon, merchant bar, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ironed p. pr. & vb. n. Ironing. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To smooth with an instrument of iron; especially, to smooth, as cloth, with a heated flatiron; -- sometimes used with out. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff. “Ironed like a malefactor.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To furnish or arm with iron; as, to iron a wagon.

iron out differences resolve differences; settle a dispute. [ PJC ]

(Bot.) The Australian Eucalyptus Sideroxylon, used largely by carpenters and shipbuilders; -- called also ironwood. Also applied to other Australian eucalyptuses with a hard, solid bark [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. 1. Bound as with iron; rugged; as, an ironbound coast. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Rigid; unyielding; as, ironbound traditions. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Cased or covered with iron, as a vessel; ironclad. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A naval vessel having the parts above water covered and protected by iron or steel usually in large plates closely joined and made sufficiently thick and strong to resist heavy shot. Modern naval vessels are made of steel throughout, and this term is only used in historical contexts. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. 1. having an outer covering of iron or steel; as, an ironclad war vessel. [ PJC ]

2. so strong or secure as to be unbreakable; as, an ironclad contract. [ PJC ]

a. 1. Clad in iron; protected or covered with iron, as a vessel for naval warfare. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Rigorous; unbreakable; severe; exacting; inflexible; as, an ironclad oath or pledge. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, irons. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A fragrant liquid substance, a mixture of several isomers of the formula C14H22O, forming the essence of the violet fragrance, commonly isolated from orris oil or from the rhizomes of Iris. The main ingredient in violets is α-irone, which occurs as both cis and trans stereoisomers. Called also 6-methylionone. [ PJC ]

a. 1. Closefisted; stingy; mean. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Ruthless; tyrranical; allowing no opposition; as, an iron-fisted tyrant. [ PJC ]

a. Of a gray color, somewhat resembling that of iron freshly broken. -- n. An iron-gray color; also, a horse of this color. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Geol., Mineral.) Same as gossan. [ PJC ]

n. (Bot.) A European composite herb (Centaurea nigra); -- so called from the resemblance of its knobbed head to an iron ball fixed on a long handle. Dr. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Hard-hearted; unfeeling; cruel; as, an iron-hearted master. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A locomotive; -- an term no longer used. [ Obsolete ] [ PJC ]

a. Ironical. Sir T. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. ironicus, Gr. &unr_; dissembling: cf. F. ironique. See Irony. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Pertaining to irony; containing, expressing, or characterized by, irony; as, an ironical remark. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Addicted to the use of irony; given to irony.

-- I*ron"ic*al*ly, adv. -- I*ron"ic*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act or process of smoothing, as clothes, with hot flatirons. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The clothes ironed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ironing board, a flat board, upon which clothes are laid while being ironed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Resembling iron, as in taste. Wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who uses irony. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A steel chamber, usually cylindrical, enclosing the entire body of a person except for the head, used to assist respiration for people suffering from disease, especially poliomyelitis. A reciprocating piston at the end causes alternating high and low pressure inside, which forces or assists the breathing of the patient within. [ PJC ]

n. An instrument of torture used in the middle ages, consisting of a box large enough to hold a person, often in the shape of a woman, and having multiple sharp spikes on the inside. Called also the iron maiden of Nuremberg. [ PJC ]