Chapter 837

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 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 .

Iron <Xpage=788>

I"ron (?) , a. [AS. \'c6ren , \'c6sen . See Iron , n. ]

1. Of, or made of iron; consisting of iron; as, an iron bar, dust .

2. Resembling iron in color; as, iron blackness .

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

(a) Rude; hard; harsh; severe .

Iron years of wars and dangers. Rowe.

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.

&hand; 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.

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) (Arch\'91ol.) 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 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; 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, G\'94thite, 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 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.

Iron <Xpage=788>

I"ron , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ironed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Ironing .]

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

2. To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff. " Ironed like a malefactor."

Sir W. Scott.

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

<-- iron out differences = resolve differences; settle a dispute. -->

Ironbark tree <Xpage=788>

I"ron*bark` tree` (?) . (Bot.) The Australian Eucalyptus Sideroxylon , used largely by carpenters and shipbuilders; -- called also ironwood .

Ironbound <Xpage=788>

I"ron*bound` (?) , a. 1. Bound as with iron; rugged; as, an ironbound coast .

2. Rigid; unyielding; as, ironbound traditions .

Iron-cased <Xpage=788>

I"ron-cased` (?) , a. Cased or covered with iron, as a vessel; ironclad.

Ironclad <Xpage=788>

I"ron*clad` (?) , a. 1. Clad in iron; protected or covered with iron, as a vessel for naval warfare.

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

Ironclad <Xpage=788>

I"ron*clad` , 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.

Ironer <Xpage=788>

I"ron*er (?) , n. One who, or that which, irons.

Iron-fisted <Xpage=788>

I"ron-fist`ed (?) , a. Closefisted; stingy; mean.

Iron-gray <Xpage=788>

I"ron-gray` (?) , a. Of a gray color, somewhat resembling that of iron freshly broken. -- n. An iron-gray color; also, a horse of this color.

Ironheads <Xpage=788>

I"ron*heads` (?) , 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.

Iron-hearted <Xpage=788>

I"ron-heart`ed (?) , a. Hard-hearted; unfeeling; cruel; as, an iron-hearted master .

Cowper.

Ironic <Xpage=788>

I*ron"ic (?) , a. Ironical.

Sir T. Herbert.

Ironical <Xpage=788>

I*ron"ic*al (?) , a. [LL. ironicus , Gr. <?/ dissembling: cf. F. ironique . See Irony .]

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

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

-- I*ron"ic*al*ly , adv. -- I*ron"ic*al*ness , n.

Ironing <Xpage=788>

I"ron*ing (?) , n. 1. The act or process of smoothing, as clothes, with hot flatirons.

2. The clothes ironed.

Ironing board , a flat board, upon which clothes are laid being ironed.

Ironish <Xpage=788>

I"ron*ish , a. Resembling iron, as in taste.

Wood.

Ironist <Xpage=788>

I"ron*ist (?) , n. One who uses irony.

Ironmaster <Xpage=788>

I"ron*mas`ter (?) , n. A manufacturer of iron, or large dealer therein.

Bp. Hurd.

Ironmonger <Xpage=788>

I"ron*mon`ger (?) , n. A dealer in iron or hardware.

Ironmongery <Xpage=788>

I"ron*mon`ger*y (?) , n. Hardware; a general name for all articles made of iron.

Gwilt.

Iron-sick <Xpage=788>

I"ron-sick` (?) , a. (Naut.) Having the ironwork loose or corroded; -- said of a ship when her bolts and nails are so eaten with rust that she has become leaky.

Iron-sided <Xpage=788>

I"ron-sid`ed (?) , a. Having iron sides, or very firm sides.

Ironsides <Xpage=788>

I"ron*sides" (?) , n. <?/ A cuirassier or cuirassiers; also, hardy veteran soldiers; -- applied specifically to Cromwell's cavalry.

<-- Old Ironsides. The U.S.S. Constitution, a ship which fought in the American Revolutionary war, and now functions as a museum in Boston harbor. -->

Ironsmith <Xpage=788>

I"ron*smith` (?) , n. 1. A worker in iron; one who makes and repairs utensils of iron; a blacksmith.

2. (Zo\'94l.) An East Indian barbet ( Megalaima faber ), inhabiting the Island of Hainan. The name alludes to its note, which resembles the sounds made by a smith.

Ironstone <Xpage=788>

I"ron*stone` (?) , n. A hard, earthy ore of iron.

Clay ironstone . See under Clay . -- Ironstone china , a hard white pottery, first made in England during the 18th century.

Ironware <Xpage=788>

I"ron*ware` (?) , n. Articles made of iron, as household utensils, tools, and the like.

Ironweed <Xpage=788>

I"ron*weed` (?) , n. (Bot.) A tall weed with purplish flowers ( Vernonia Noveboracensis ). The name is also applied to other plants of the same genus.

Ironwood <Xpage=788>

I"ron*wood` (?) , n. (Bot.) A tree unusually hard, strong, or heavy wood.

&hand; In the United States, the hornbeam and the hop hornbeam are so called; also the Olneya Tesota , a small tree of Arizona; in the West Indies, the Erythroxylon areolatum , and several other unrelated trees; in China, the Metrosideros vera ; in India, the Mesua ferrea , and two species of Inga ; in Australia, the Eucalyptus Sideroxylon , and in many countries, species of Sideroxylon and Diospyros , and many other trees.

Ironwork <Xpage=788>

I"ron*work` (?) , n. Anything made of iron; -- a general name of such parts or pieces of a building, vessel, carriage, etc., as consist of iron.

Iron works <Xpage=788>

I"ron works` . See under Iron , a.

Ironwort <Xpage=788>

I"ron*wort` (?) , n. (Bot.) An herb of the Mint family ( Sideritis ), supposed to heal sword cuts; also, a species of Galeopsis .

Irony <Xpage=788>

I"ron*y (?) , a. [From Iron .]

1. Made or consisting of iron; partaking of iron; iron; as, irony chains; irony particles. [R.] <-- in this sense iron is more common. -->

Woodward.

2. Resembling iron taste, hardness, or other physical property.

Irony <Xpage=788>

I"ron*y (?) , n. [L. ironia , Gr. <?/ dissimulation, fr. <?/ a dissembler in speech, fr. <?/ to speak; perh. akin to E. word : cf. F. ironie .]

1. Dissimulation; ignorance feigned for the purpose of confounding or provoking an antagonist.

2. A sort of humor, ridicule, or light sarcasm, which adopts a mode of speech the meaning of which is contrary to the literal sense of the words.

Iroquois <Xpage=788>

Ir`o*quois" (?) , n. sing. & pl. [F.] (Ethnol.) A powerful and warlike confederacy of Indian tribes, formerly inhabiting Central New York and constituting most of the Five Nations. Also, any Indian of the Iroquois tribes.

Irous <Xpage=788>

I"rous (?) , a. [OF. iros , from ire . See Ire .] Irascible; passionate. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Irp, Irpe <Xpage=788>

Irp , Irpe (?) , n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A fantastic grimace or contortion of the body. [Obs.]

Smirks and irps and all affected humors. B. Jonson .

<page="789"> Page 789

Irp <Xpage=789>

Irp (?) , a. Making irps. [Obs.]

B. Jonson.

Irradiance, Irradiancy <Xpage=789>

Ir*ra"di*ance (?) , Ir*ra"di*an*cy (?) , n. [From Irradiant .]

1. The act of irradiating; emission of rays of light.

2. That which irradiates or is irradiated; luster; splendor; irradiation; brilliancy.

Milton.

Irradiant <Xpage=789>

Ir*ra"di*ant (?) , a. [L. irradians , -antis , p. pr. See Irradiate .] Irradiating or illuminating; as, the irradiant moon .

Boyse.

Irradiate <Xpage=789>

Ir*ra"di*ate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Irradiated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Irradiating (?) .] [L. irradiatus , p. p. of irradiate. See In- in , and Radiate .]

1. To throw rays of light upon; to illuminate; to brighten; to adorn with luster.

Thy smile irradiates yon blue fields. Sir W. Jones.

2. To enlighten intellectually; to illuminate; as, to irradiate the mind .

Bp. Bull.

3. To animate by heat or light.

Sir M. Hale.

4. To radiate, shed, or diffuse.

A splendid fa<?/ade, . . . irradiating hospitality. H. James.

Irradiate <Xpage=789>

Ir*ra"di*ate , v. i. To emit rays; to shine.

Irradiate <Xpage=789>

Ir*ra"di*ate (?) , a. [L. irradiatus , p. p.] Illuminated; irradiated.

Mason.

Irradiation <Xpage=789>

Ir*ra`di*a"tion (?) , n. [Cf. F. irradiation .]

1. Act of irradiating, or state of being irradiated.

2. Illumination; irradiance; brilliancy.

Sir W. Scott.

3. Fig.: Mental light or illumination.

Sir M. Hale.

4. (Opt.) The apparent enlargement of a bright object seen upon a dark ground, due to the fact that the portions of the retina around the image are stimulated by the intense light; as when a dark spot on a white ground appears smaller, or a white spot on a dark ground larger, than it really is, esp. when a little out of focus.

Irradicate <Xpage=789>

Ir*rad"i*cate (?) , v. t. To root deeply. [R.]

Irrational <Xpage=789>

Ir*ra"tion*al (?) , a. [L. irrationalis : cf. F. irrationnel . See In- not, and Rational .]

1. Not rational; void of reason or understanding; as, brutes are irrational animals .

2. Not according to reason; absurd; foolish.

It seemed utterly irrational any longer to maintain it. I. Taylor.

3. (Math.) Not capable of being exactly expressed by an integral number, or by a vulgar fraction; surd; -- said especially of roots. See Surd .

Syn. -- Absurd; foolish; preposterous; unreasonable; senseless. See Absurd .

Irrationality <Xpage=789>

Ir*ra`tion*al"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being irrational. "Brutish irrationaliity ."

South.

Irrationally <Xpage=789>

Ir*ra"tion*al*ly (?) , adv. In an irrational manner.

Boyle.

Irrationalness <Xpage=789>

Ir*ra"tion*al*ness , n. Irrationality.

Irrebuttable <Xpage=789>

Ir`re*but"ta*ble (?) , a. Incapable of being rebutted.

Coleridge.

Irreceptive <Xpage=789>

Ir`re*cep"tive (?) , a. Not receiving; incapable of receiving.

Irreclaimable <Xpage=789>

Ir`re*claim"a*ble (?) , a. Incapable of being reclaimed. Addison . -- Ir`re*claim"a*bly , ad<?/.

Irrecognition <Xpage=789>

Ir*rec`og*ni"tion (?) , n. [Pref. in- not + recognition .] A failure to recognize; absence of recognition.

Lamb.

Irrecognizable <Xpage=789>

Ir*rec"og*ni`za*ble (?; 277) , a. Not recognizable.

Carlyle.

Irreconcilability <Xpage=789>

Ir*rec`on*ci`la*bil"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being irreconcilable; irreconcilableness.

Irreconcilable <Xpage=789>

Ir*rec"on*ci`la*ble (?; 277) , a. [Pref. ir- not + reconcilable : cf. F. irr\'82conciliable .] Not reconcilable; implacable; incompatible; inconsistent; disagreeing; as, irreconcilable enemies, statements . -- Ir*rec"on*ci`la*ble*ness , n. -- Ir*rec"on*ci`la*bly , adv.

Irreconcile <Xpage=789>

Ir*rec"on*cile` (?) , v. t. To prevent from being reconciled; to alienate or disaffect. [Obs.]

Irreconcilement <Xpage=789>

Ir*rec"on*cile`ment (?) , n. The state or quality of being unreconciled; disagreement.

Irreconciliation <Xpage=789>

Ir*rec`on*cil`i*a"tion (?) , n. Want of reconciliation; disagreement.

Irrecordable <Xpage=789>

Ir`re*cord"a*ble (?) , a. [Pref. ir-- not + record : cf. L. irrecordabilis not to be remembered.] Not fit or possible to be recorded.

Irrecoverable <Xpage=789>

Ir`re*cov"er*a*ble (?) , a. Not capable of being recovered, regained, or remedied; irreparable; as, an irrecoverable loss, debt, or injury .

That which is past is gone and irrecoverable . Bacon.

Syn. -- Irreparable; irretrievable; irremediable; unalterable; incurable; hopeless.

-- Ir`re*cov"er*a*ble*ness , n. -- Ir`re*cov"er*a*bly , adv.

Irrecuperable <Xpage=789>

Ir`re*cu"per*a*ble (?) , a. [L. irrecuperabilis : cf. OF. irrecuperable . See In- not, and Recuperate .] Irrecoverable. -- Ir`re*cu"per*a*bly , adv.

Irrecured <Xpage=789>

Ir`re*cured" (?) , a. Incurable. [Obs.]

Irrecusable <Xpage=789>

Ir`re*cu"sa*ble (?) , a. [L. irrecusabilis ; pref. ir-- not + recusabilis that should be rejected, fr. recusare to reject: cf. F. irr\'82cusable .] Not liable to exception or rejection.

Sir W. Hamilton.

Irredeemability <Xpage=789>

Ir`re*deem`a*bil"i*ty (?) , n. The state or quality of being irredeemable; irredeemableness.

Irredeemable <Xpage=789>