ˈiron-ˌhard, a. and n.
[f. iron n.1 + hard: OE. {iacu}renheard.]
A. adj. As hard as iron: extremely hard.
| Beowulf (Z.) 1112 Eofer iren-heard. 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. iii. 1045 Men..Whose wits are Lead, whose bodies Iron-hard. 1889 A. T. Pask Eyes Thames 3 Small iron-hard bricks. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 3 Feb. 2/1 Montmorency..fell prone on to the iron-hard earth. |
† B. n. [OE. {iacu}senhearde, MDu. îserhart, Du. ijzerhard, MHG. îsenhart vervain.] An old name for the herbs Vervain (Verbena officinalis) and Knapweed (Centaurea nigra), from the toughness of their stalks. Obs.
| c 1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 4 Eofor þrotan and ᵹarclifan and isenheardan. c 1265 Voc. Names Plants in Wr.-Wülcker 556/41 Ueruena, i. uerueine, i. irenharde. 14.. MS. Laud 553 lf. 13 Iasia nigra..yrnehard. ? 15.. in Archæol. XXX. 409 Hyrne hard, Bolleweed, Jasia nigra. 1597 Gerarde Herbal App., Yronhard is Knapweed. |