ferrum, i, n. [cf. Sanscr. dharti, firmness; Lat. firmus], iron.
I Lit., Plin. 34, 14, 39, § 138; Lucr. 1, 571; 5, 1241; 1286; Cic. N. D. 2, 60, 151; id. Leg. 2, 18, 45; Caes. B. G. 5, 12, 5; Hor. S. 1, 4, 20 et saep.: mustum quod resipit ferrum, has a taste of iron , Varr. R. R. 1, 54, 3.—
B Poet.
1 As a fig. of hard-heartedness, unfeelingness, cruelty, etc.: gerere ferrum in pectore, Ov. M. 9, 614; cf.: ferrum et scopulos gestare in corde, id. ib. 7, 33: durior ferro, id. ib. 14, 712; hence for the iron age , id. ib. 1, 127; 15, 260; Hor. Epod. 16, 65.—
2 As an image of firmness, endurance, Ov. P. 4, 10, 3.—
II Transf., any thing made of iron, an iron implement , as a plough : glebas proscindere ferro, Lucil. ap. Non. 401, 19: solum terrae, Lucr. 5, 1295; cf. also, campum, Ov. M. 7, 119: ferro scindimus aequor, Verg. G. 1, 50; a hatchet : ferro mitiget agrum, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 186; an axe : mordaci velut icta ferro Pinus, id. C. 4, 6, 9; 4, 4, 60 (for which, shortly before, bipennis); cf. Lucr. 6, 168; a dart : petita ferro belua, Hor. Epod. 5, 10; the tip of an arrow : exstabat ferrum de pectore aduncum, Ov. M. 9, 128; the head (of a spear), Tac. G. 6; an iron stylus : dextra tenet ferrum, Ov. M. 9, 522; hair-scissors : solitus longos ferro resecare capillos, id. ib. 11, 182; curling-irons : crines vibratos calido ferro, Verg. A. 12, 100 et saep.—Esp. freq. a sword : Drusum ferro. Metellum veneno sustulerat, Cic. N. D. 3, 33, 81: in aliquem cum ferro invadere, id. Caecin. 9, 25: aut ferro aut fame interire, Caes. B. G. 5, 30 fin. : uri virgis ferroque necari, Hor. S. 2, 7, 58; cf.: gladiator, ferrum recipere jussus, the stroke of the sword , Cic. Tusc. 2, 17, 41. So, ferrum et ignis, like our fire and sword , to denote devastation, utter destruction: huic urbi ferro ignique minitantur, Cic. Phil. 11, 14, 37; cf.: hostium urbes agrique ferro atque igni vastentur, Liv. 31, 7, 13: pontem ferro, igni, quacumque vi possent, interrumpant, id. 2, 10, 4; 30, 6, 9; 1, 59, 1: ecce ferunt Troës ferrumque ignemque Jovemque In Danaas classes, Ov. M. 13, 91: inque meos ferrum flammasque penates Impulit, id. ib. 12, 551; so, conversely, igni ferroque, Cic. Phil. 13, 21, 47; Liv. 35, 21, 10; cf. Tac. A. 14, 38; Suet. Claud. 21: flamma ferroque, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 35, § 78; Flor. 2, 17, 15; 3, 18, 14; Sen. Const. Sap. 2, 2: ferrum, i. q. arms , for battle , war , force of arms : ferro, non auro, vitam cernamus, utrique, Enn. ap. Cic. Off. 1, 12, 38 (Ann. v. 202 ed. Vahl.); cf.: quem nemo ferro potuit superare nec auro, id. ap. Cic. Rep. 3, 3 (Ann. v. 220 ed. Vahl.): adnuit, sese mecum decernere ferro, id. ap. Prisc. p. 822 P. (Ann. v. 136 ed. Vahl.): decernere ferro, Cic. de Or. 2, 78, 317; Liv. 40, 8 fin. ; Verg. A. 7, 525; 11, 218: cernere ferro, id. ib. 12, 709: ferro regna lacessere, with war , id. ib. 12, 186; cf.: atque omnis, Latio quae servit purpura ferro, i. e. made subject by the force of arms , Luc. 7, 228.— Prov.: ferrum meum in igni est, i. q. mea nunc res agitur, Sen. Mort. Claud.