† irnen, a. Obs.
Also 4 yrnen. 5 yirnen.
[Early ME. f. iren iron + -en. (The OE. adj. was iren like the n. Mod. s.w. dialect has ire n., ire-n adj. Iron-en also occurs in mod. dialect.]
= iron a. 1.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 149 His fet and his honde if heo þurh irnene neile were þurh-stunge. 13.. K. Alis. 5831 (MS. Bodl.) Hy weren redy in þat stede..And pliȝtten hym in wiþ yrnen hoke. 1306 in Pol. Songs (Camden) 222 With yrnene claspes longe to laste. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 205 Yche spook..Ful of yirnene sawys shul be set. [1886 Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk., Ironen, made of iron. This use is emphatic—i.e. of iron and of nothing else.] |