[Cf. MHG. viurisern.]
† 1. An iron (or a steel) for striking a light. Obs.
c. 1300. St. Brandan, 639.
| Mid his forthere fet he browȝte a fur-ire and a ston, | |
| Forto smyte fur therwith, and of fisch god won. |
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, and the fire burned clear.
1886. J. K. Jerome, Idle Thoughts (1889), 36. They are busybodies who are about early in the morning, hammering, shouting and rattling the fire-irons, and rendering it generally impossible for the rest of the house to remain in bed.
