Iron Age

The period in cultural development succeeding the Bronze Age in Asia, Europe, and Africa, characterized by the introduction of iron metallurgy. In Europe it began around the eighth century bc. See Usage Note at Three Age system.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

iron age

(Classical Myth & Legend) classical myth the last and worst age in the history of the world

Iron Age

(Archaeology)

a. the period following the Bronze Age characterized by the extremely rapid spread of iron tools and weapons, which began in the Middle East about 1100 bc

b. (as modifier): an Iron-Age weapon.

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

I′ron Age`

1. the period in the history of humankind, following the Stone Age and the Bronze Age, marked by the use of implements and weapons made of iron: in Europe generally regarded as extending from the first millennium b.c. to the early first century a.d.; the Halstatt and La Tène cultures are representative.

2. (often l.c.) (in Greek and Roman myth) the last and worst of the ages of the human race, characterized by danger, corruption, and toil.

[1585–95]

Iron Age

The period in human history following the Bronze Age, during which people discovered how to make iron tools and weapons.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	Iron Age - (archeology) the period following the Bronze Age; characterized by rapid spread of iron tools and weapons archaeology, archeology - the branch of anthropology that studies prehistoric people and their cultures prehistoric culture, prehistory - the time during the development of human culture before the appearance of the written word
	2.	iron age - (classical mythology) the last and worst age of the world classical mythology - the system of mythology of the Greeks and Romans together; much of Roman mythology (especially the gods) was borrowed from the Greeks period, period of time, time period - an amount of time; "a time period of 30 years"; "hastened the period of time of his recovery"; "Picasso's blue period"

Translations

Eisenzeit

et... del ferro Età del Ferro ferro da stiro

Iron Age

n the Iron Age → l'età del ferro

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Take, for instance, the description of the Iron Age

View in context

But Don Quixote, supported by his intrepid heart, leaped on Rocinante, and bracing his buckler on his arm, brought his pike to the slope, and said, "Friend Sancho, know that I by Heaven's will have been born in this our iron age to revive revive in it the age of gold, or the golden as it is called; I am he for whom perils, mighty achievements, and valiant deeds are reserved; I am, I say again, he who is to revive the Knights of the Round Table, the Twelve of France and the Nine Worthies; and he who is to consign to oblivion the Platirs, the Tablantes, the Olivantes and Tirantes, the Phoebuses and Belianises, with the whole herd of famous knights-errant of days gone by, performing in these in which I live such exploits, marvels, and feats of arms as shall obscure their brightest deeds.

Four times he stopped, and as many times did his laughter break out afresh with the same violence as at first, whereat Don Quixote grew furious, above all when he heard him say mockingly, "Thou must know, friend Sancho, that of Heaven's will I was born in this our iron age to revive in it the golden or age of gold; I am he for whom are reserved perils, mighty achievements, valiant deeds;" and here he went on repeating the words that Don Quixote uttered the first time they heard the awful strokes.

View in context

It was always known that there was an Iron Age hill fort on Nesscliffe Hill, which stands between Shrewsbury and Oswestry just off the A5, but experts have now found a guard room and rampart dating back to 600-500BC.

Hill fort dig reveals secrets of history

An incredible Iron Iron Age building has been unearthed following a recent excavation in Wales.

Iron Age building unearthed in Wales is 'biggest experts have ever seen'; It is understood to be more than 2,500 years old

Dan Amor of Gwynedd Archaeological Trust said the structure of "fantastic quality" could have been home to an "important figure" during the Iron Age, which dates from around 750BC to 43AD.

Iron Age roundhouse 'the biggest experts have seen'

A HUGE Iron Age building has been unearthed following a recent excavation on a Gwynedd cliff edge.

Huge Iron Age roundhouse is 'biggest experts have ever seen' STRUCTURE UNEARTHED EARLIER THIS MONTH THOUGHT TO BE 2,500 YEARS OLD

A STUDENT has revealed the face of a female druid from the Iron Age in a 3D wax reconstruction.

Face to face with Iron Age woman

A female's life expectancy at this time was roughly 31 years, but it is now thought that living longer during the Iron Age is indicative of a privileged background.

Face to face with Iron Age woman

A new dig at an archaeological hotspot in east Caithness could cast new light on Iron Age dwellings.

Fresh bid to unearth more Iron Age clues at site; ARCHAEOLOGY

Since last year, many ornaments, dishes and weapons dating back to the Iron Age have been unearthed in Sagz Abad, Buin Zahra, of Qazvin Province, the deputy head of the provincial Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department said June 17.

Archaeologists finding relics in Iron Age dig