Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Iron \I"ron\ ([imac]"[u^]rn), n. [OE. iren, AS. [=i]ren,
   [=i]sen, [=i]sern; akin to D. ijzer, OS. [=i]sarn, OHG.
   [=i]sarn, [=i]san, G. eisen, Icel. [=i]sarn, j[=a]rn, Sw. &
   Dan. jern, and perh. to E. ice; cf. Ir. iarann, W. haiarn,
   Armor. houarn.]
   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 weight 55.9.
      Specific gravity, pure iron, 7.86; cast iron, 7.1. In
      magnetic properties, it is superior to all other
      substances.

   Note: 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).

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

            My young soldier, put up your iron.   --Shak.

   3. pl. Fetters; chains; handcuffs; manacles.

            Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons.
                                                  --Macaulay.

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

   {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.

.
      (b) A balloon sent up at night with fireworks which ignite
          at a regulated height. --Simmonds.

   {Fire bar}, a grate bar.

   {Fire basket}, a portable grate; a cresset. --Knight.

   {Fire beetle}. (Zo["o]l.) See in the Vocabulary.

   {Fire blast}, a disease of plants which causes them to appear
      as if burnt by fire.

   {Fire box}, the chamber of a furnace, steam boiler, etc., for
      the fire.

   {Fire brick}, a refractory brick, capable of sustaining
      intense heat without fusion, usually made of fire clay or
      of siliceous material, with some cementing substance, and
      used for lining fire boxes, etc.

   {Fire brigade}, an organized body of men for extinguished
      fires.

   {Fire bucket}. See under {Bucket}.

   {Fire bug}, an incendiary; one who, from malice or through
      mania, persistently sets fire to property; a pyromaniac.
      [U.S.]

   {Fire clay}. See under {Clay}.

   {Fire company}, a company of men managing an engine in
      extinguishing fires.

   {Fire cross}. See {Fiery cross}. [Obs.] --Milton.

   {Fire damp}. See under {Damp}.

   {Fire dog}. See {Firedog}, in the Vocabulary.

   {Fire drill}.
      (a) A series of evolutions performed by fireman for
          practice.
      (b) An apparatus for producing fire by friction, by
          rapidly twirling a wooden pin in a wooden socket; --
          used by the Hindoos during all historic time, and by
          many savage peoples.

   {Fire eater}.
      (a) A juggler who pretends to eat fire.
      (b) A quarrelsome person who seeks affrays; a hotspur.
          [Colloq.]

   {Fire engine}, a portable forcing pump, usually on wheels,
      for throwing water to extinguish fire.

   {Fire escape}, a contrivance for facilitating escape from
      burning buildings.

   {Fire gilding} (Fine Arts), a mode of gilding with an amalgam
      of gold and quicksilver, the latter metal being driven off
      afterward by heat.

   {Fire gilt} (Fine Arts), gold laid on by the process of fire
      gilding.

   {Fire insurance}, the act or system of insuring against fire;
      also, a contract by which an insurance company undertakes,
      in consideration of the payment of a premium or small
      percentage -- usually made periodically -- to indemnify an
      owner of property from loss by fire during a specified
      period.

   {Fire irons}, utensils for a fireplace or grate, as tongs,
      poker, and shovel.

   {Fire main}, a pipe for water, to be used in putting out
      fire.

   {Fire master}
      (Mil), an artillery officer who formerly supervised the
            composition of fireworks.

   {Fire office}, an office at which to effect insurance against
      fire.

   {Fire opal}, a variety of opal giving firelike reflections.
      

   {Fire ordeal}, an ancient mode of trial, in which the test
      was the ability of the accused to handle or tread upon
      red-hot irons. --Abbot.

   {Fire pan}, a pan for holding or conveying fire, especially
      the receptacle for the priming of a gun.

   {Fire plug}, a plug or hydrant for drawing water from the
      main pipes in a street, building, etc., for extinguishing
      fires.

   {Fire policy}, the writing or instrument expressing the
      contract of insurance against loss by fire.

   {Fire pot}.
      (a) (Mil.) A small earthen pot filled with combustibles,
          formerly used as a missile in war.
      (b) The cast iron vessel which holds the fuel or fire in a
          furnace.
      (c) A crucible.
      (d) A solderer's furnace.

   {Fire raft}, a raft laden with combustibles, used for setting
      fire to an enemy's ships.

   {Fire roll}, a peculiar beat of the drum to summon men to
      their quarters in case of fire.

   {Fire setting} (Mining), the process of softening or cracking
      the working face of a lode, to facilitate excavation, by
      exposing it to the action of fire; -- now generally
      superseded by the use of explosives. --Raymond.

   {Fire ship}, a vessel filled with combustibles, for setting
      fire to an enemy's ships.

   {Fire shovel}, a shovel for taking up coals of fire.

   {Fire stink}, the stench from decomposing iron pyrites,
      caused by the formation of sulphureted hydrogen.
      --Raymond.

   {Fire surface}, the surfaces of a steam boiler which are
      exposed to the direct heat of the fuel and the products of
      combustion; heating surface.

   {Fire swab}, a swab saturated with water, for cooling a gun
      in action and clearing away particles of powder, etc.
      --Farrow.

   {Fire teaser}, in England, the fireman of a steam emgine.

   {Fire water}, ardent spirits; -- so called by the American
      Indians.

   {Fire worship}, the worship of fire, which prevails chiefly
      in Persia, among the followers of Zoroaster, called
      Chebers, or Guebers, and among the Parsees of India.

   {Greek fire}. See under {Greek}.

   {On fire}, burning; hence, ardent; passionate; eager;
      zealous.

   {Running fire}, the rapid discharge of firearms in succession
      by a line of troops.

   {St. Anthony's fire}, erysipelas; -- an eruptive fever which
      St. Anthony was supposed to cure miraculously. --Hoblyn.

   {St. Elmo's fire}. See under {Saint Elmo}.

   {To set on fire}, to inflame; to kindle.

   {To take fire}, to begin to burn; to fly into a passion.