ironing, vbl. n.
(ˈaɪənɪŋ)
[f. iron v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb iron.
1. a. The pressing and smoothing of clothes, cloth, etc., with a heated iron.
| c 1710 C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 7 Mr. Newbery..would keep no women servants—had all washing, Ironing, dairy and all performed by men. 1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. xxiv, A strong smell of ironing pervaded the little passage. 1885 Manch. Exam. 9 Sept. 3/1 Equal to the task of instructing a laundress in the ironing of a table⁓cloth. |
b. attrib., as
ironing blanket,
ironing board,
ironing machine,
ironing room,
ironing stool,
ironing table.
| 1810 E. Weeton Let. 25 Feb. in Jrnl. of Governess (1969) I. 232, I flew into the servants' hall for the ironing blanket. 1854 Mrs. Gaskell North & S. (1855) I. iv. 44 Dixon had complained that the ironing-blanket had been burnt again. |
| 1843 New Mirror 8 Apr. 4/2 Swapped away for a wash-bench or an ironing-board. 1876 H. E. Scudder Dwellers in Five-Sisters Court iii. 52 Nicholas will have to carry the ironing-board for her. 1928–9 T. Eaton & Co. Catal. Fall & Winter 391/4 Ironing Board Cover..padded with wadding..fits any regulation-sized board. 1969 E. H. Pinto Treen 151 Ironing boards..are found in a variety of shapes and sizes, for skirts,..trousers,..and sleeves. 1972 Guardian 30 June 7/7 This superb new Milium Ironing Board Cover..is scorch resistant. 1972 Sci. Amer. Dec. 48/3 The development of fine glass yarns..has brought glass fibers into such products as bedspreads and covers for ironing boards. |
| 1759 Colebrooke in Phil. Trans. LI. 44 An ironing box, charged with an hot heater. |
| 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. ix. 79 The little table stood out before the fire, covered with an ironing-cloth. |
| 1817 H. Lee (title) Poetic Impressions,..including the Washing Day, Ironing Day, Brewing Day, Quarter Day, and Saturday. |
| a 1877 Knight Dict. Mech. II. 1203/2 Ironing-machine, one for ironing clothes, etc. 1962 Which? June 170/1 We should like to hear from members who have bought a dishwashing machine or an ironing machine during 1960 or 1961. |
| 1894 E. Banks Campaigns of Curiosity 195 The one large room..should be divided into..three apartments; wash-house, sorting-room, and ironing-room. 1906 Westm. Gaz. 5 July 2/1 The hooded fireplace of the ironing-room. 1962 Guardian 3 Dec. 4/7 Mothers come..to enjoy working in the little ironing room. |
| 1878 Mrs. Stowe Poganuc People xxv. 268 Will seized her off the ironing stool and, perching her on his shoulder, danced round the table. |
| 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop x, The poor woman was still hard at work at an ironing-table. 1911 F. B. Jack Woman's Bk. 273/1 The Ironing Table.—This must be of a good size, strong, and steady, and of a convenient height for working at. Ibid. 273/2 In addition to the ironing table, a smaller one for placing the work on will be found a great convenience if space permits. 1959 Sears, Roebuck Catal. Spring & Summer 966/2 Ironing Table Designed for stand-up and sit-down ironing. 1974 J. Frazer Catal. 739/1 Ironing surface 36{pp} × 13{pp} All-metal ironing table..{pstlg}4.50. |
2. The putting (
of persons) in irons.
rare.
| 1820 Examiner No. 650. 620/1 The dungeonings and ironings of Reformers. |
3. The action of fitting or arming with
iron. ¶ 4. As a perversion of
irony: see
iron v. 4.