A smith who works in iron or black metal, as distinguished from a ‘whitesmith’ who works in tin or white metal.
1483. Act 1 Rich. III., xii. § 1. Artificers of the said Realm … Bladesmiths, Blacksmiths, Spurriers, Goldbeaters.
c. 1500. Cocke Lorell’s B., 9. Brydel bytters, blacke smythes, and ferrars.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 31, ¶ 3. Having got a Black-Smith of Lemnos to make her Son’s Weapons.
1813. Parl. Debate, in Examiner, 24 May, 326/2. If this should be decided to be a valid marriage, the poor Gretna green Blacksmith would be ruined.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. § 19. A clever blacksmith can make a nail red-hot by hammering it.
Hence Blacksmithing sb.
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., II. i. (1849), 43. For blacksmithing a prime hammer.
1861. Du Chaillu, Equat. Afr., xxvi. 464. In their blacksmithing operations.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., IV. lvii. 169. If he doesn’t like the blacksmithing.
