cold iron

English

Noun

cold iron (uncountable)

  1. Alternative form of cold steel (“swords, knives, bladed weapons”).
    • 1771, Tobias Smollett, The Expedition of Humphry Clinker:
      This scene passed in presence of Lieutenant Lismahago, who encouraged Clinker to hazard a thrust of cold iron with his antagonist.
    • 1910, Rudyard Kipling, “Cold Iron”, in Rewards and Fairies:
      'Gold is for the mistress — silver for the maid — / Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.' / 'Good!' said the Baron, sitting in his hall, / 'But Iron — Cold Iron — is master of them all.'
  2. (mythology) a (possibly fictional) substance harmful to fairies; depending on the story, ordinary iron or iron treated in some way
  3. (slang, fishing, Scotland, Ireland) A bad omen.
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