ˈfire-iron
[Cf. MHG. viurisern.]
† 1. An iron (or a steel) for striking a light. Obs.
| c 1300 St. Brandan 639 He browȝte a fur-ire and a ston Forto smyte fur therwith. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 161/2 Fyyre yryn, to smyte wythe fyre, fugillus. c 1500 Melusine 23 Raymondin..hadd kyndled the fyre with hys fyre-yron. 1530 Palsgr. 220/2 Fyre yron to stryke fyre with, fusil. |
2. pl. Implements for tending a domestic fire, usually shovel, tongs and poker.
| 1812 Specif. G. Babb's Patent No. 3526, A new Method of producing..fire irons. 1848 C. Brontë J. Eyre xxi, The grate and fire-irons were burnished bright. 1886 J. K. Jerome Idle Thoughts (1889) 36 Hammering, shouting and rattling the fire-irons. |