Definition of "irons" []

• Plural form of iron. (noun)
• Shackles (noun)
• A lack of forward motion. (noun)
• Third-person singular simple present indicative form of iron. (verb)

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• "The term irons comes from the great days of sail, when a battleship stuck in irons could not maneuver away from its foe and therefore was unable to escape attack."
• "He saw the boat boys knocked about, and one of them put in irons for three days with nothing to eat for the crime of breaking a rowlock while pulling."
• "But when he attempted the passage, he was caught by a light gale and driven back to Santa Anna, where the trader clapped him in irons and held him against the return of the schooner from Santa Cruz."