Iron \I"ron\ ([imac]"[ucr]rn), n. [OE. iren, AS. [c6]ren,
      [c6]sen, [c6]sern; akin to D. ijzer, OS. [c6]sarn, OHG.
      [c6]sarn, [c6]san, G. eisen, Icel. [c6]sarn, j[be]rn, Sw. &
      Dan. jern, and perh. to E. ice; cf. Ir. iarann, W. haiarn,
      Armor. houarn.]
      1. (Chem.) The most common and most useful metallic element,
            being of almost universal occurrence, usually in the form
            of an oxide (as hematite, magnetite, etc.), or a hydrous
            oxide (as limonite, turgite, etc.). It is reduced on an
            enormous scale in three principal forms; viz., cast iron,
            steel, and wrought iron. Iron usually appears dark brown,
            from oxidation or impurity, but when pure, or on a fresh
            surface, is a gray or white metal. It is easily oxidized
            (rusted) by moisture, and is attacked by many corrosive
            agents. Symbol Fe (Latin Ferrum). Atomic weight 55.9.
            Specific gravity, pure iron, 7.86; cast iron, 7.1. In
            magnetic properties, it is superior to all other
            substances.
  
      Note: The value of iron is largely due to the facility with
               which it can be worked. Thus, when heated it is
               malleable and ductile, and can be easily welded and
               forged at a high temperature. As cast iron, it is
               easily fusible; as steel, is very tough, and (when
               tempered) very hard and elastic. Chemically, iron is
               grouped with cobalt and nickel. Steel is a variety of
               iron containing more carbon than wrought iron, but less
               that cast iron. It is made either from wrought iron, by
               roasting in a packing of carbon (cementation) or from
               cast iron, by burning off the impurities in a Bessemer
               converter (then called Bessemer steel), or directly
               from the iron ore (as in the Siemens rotatory and
               generating furnace).
  
      2. An instrument or utensil made of iron; -- chiefly in
            composition; as, a flatiron, a smoothing iron, etc.
  
                     My young soldier, put up your iron.   --Shak.
  
      3. pl. Fetters; chains; handcuffs; manacles.
  
                     Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons.
                                                                              --Macaulay.
  
      4. Strength; power; firmness; inflexibility; as, to rule with
            a rod of iron.
  
      {Bar iron}. See {Wrought iron} (below).
  
      {Bog iron}, bog ore; limonite. See {Bog ore}, under {Bog}.
  
      {Cast iron} (Metal.), an impure variety of iron, containing
            from three to six percent of carbon, part of which is
            united with a part of the iron, as a carbide, and the rest
            is uncombined, as graphite. It there is little free
            carbon, the product is white iron; if much of the carbon
            has separated as graphite, it is called gray iron. See
            also {Cast iron}, in the Vocabulary.
  
      {Fire irons}. See under {Fire}, n.
  
      {Gray irons}. See under {Fire}, n.
  
      {Gray iron}. See {Cast iron} (above).
  
      {It irons} (Naut.), said of a sailing vessel, when, in
            tacking, she comes up head to the wind and will not fill
            away on either tack.
  
      {Magnetic iron}. See {Magnetite}.
  
      {Malleable iron} (Metal.), iron sufficiently pure or soft to
            be capable of extension under the hammer; also, specif., a
            kind of iron produced by removing a portion of the carbon
            or other impurities from cast iron, rendering it less
            brittle, and to some extent malleable.
  
      {Meteoric iron} (Chem.), iron forming a large, and often the
            chief, ingredient of meteorites. It invariably contains a
            small amount of nickel and cobalt. Cf. {Meteorite}.
  
      {Pig iron}, the form in which cast iron is made at the blast
            furnace, being run into molds, called pigs.
  
      {Reduced iron}. See under {Reduced}.
  
      {Specular iron}. See {Hematite}.
  
      {Too many irons in the fire}, too many objects requiring the
            attention at once.
  
      {White iron}. See {Cast iron} (above).
  
      {Wrought iron} (Metal.), the purest form of iron commonly
            known in the arts, containing only about half of one per
            cent of carbon. It is made either directly from the ore,
            as in the Catalan forge or bloomery, or by purifying
            (puddling) cast iron in a reverberatory furnace or
            refinery. It is tough, malleable, and ductile. When formed
            into bars, it is called bar iron.

English Dictionary: Brorume	by the DICT Development Group
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Bar iron \Bar" i`ron\       See under {Iron}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Kousso \Kous"so\, n. (Bot.)       An Abyssinian rosaceous tree ({Brayera anthelmintica}), the       flowers of which are used as a vermifuge. [Written also       {cusso} and {kosso}.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Briarean \Bri*a"re*an\, a. [L. Briareius, fr. Briareus a       mythological hundred-handed giant, Gr. [?], fr. [?] strong.]       Pertaining to, or resembling, Briareus, a giant fabled to       have a hundred hands; hence, hundred-handed or many-handed.