iron (usu. two syll.; one syll. in John IV. i. 120, IV. ii. 194, R3 V. iii. 111)
1.
the metal of which arms and
armour are made; hence (i) offensive weapons Ado V. i. 257, 1H6 IV. iii. 20; (ii)
sword Tw.N. IV. i. 43, R3 V. iii. 111, Troil. II. iii. 18;
(iii) armour 2H4 I. i.
150, Ant. IV. iv. 3.
2.
used to symbolize
hardness of heart MND. II. i.
196, 3H6 II. ii. 139, H8 III. ii. 425; hence
as adj. =harsh, cruel, merciless
John IV. i. 60
“this iron age,”
1H4 II. iii. 53
“iron wars,”
Rom. IV. v. 127
“an iron wit”
(punningly),
Tim. III. iv. 85
“an iron heart.”
