iron maidenn.

Brit.

/ˌʌɪən ˈmeɪdn/, U.S.

/ˌaɪ(ə)rn ˈmeɪd(ə)n/

Forms: also with capital initials.

Origin: Formed within English, by compounding; modelled on a German lexical item. Etymons: iron adj., maiden n.

Etymology: < iron adj. + maiden n., after German eiserne Jungfer (1751 in the passage translated in quot. 1757 at sense 1a, or earlier; now usually Eiserne Jungfrau (hist.)).

a. An instrument of torture, supposedly used during the Middle Ages, consisting of an upright box lined with iron spikes, into which the victim is shut.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > punishment > torture > instrument or place of torture > [noun] > iron maiden

iron maiden1757

iron virgin1837

iron maid1859

1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. II. l. 182 This instrument the French call Oubliettes, but at present no more of it is to be seen, in this castle, than of the iron maidens [Ger. eiserne Jungfern] (concerning which so many idle stories are told) at the castle of Plassenburg, the white tower at Prague and other places.

1837 Handbk. Travellers S. Germany xiv. 330/1 There is a tradition that the Iron Maiden (Eiserne Jungfrau) was the instrument employed here.

1891 Times 9 Nov. 13/5 It is believed that the ‘Iron Maiden’ is purely and peculiarly a relic of old Nuremberg.

1916 Jrnl. Amer. Inst. Criminal Law & Criminol. 6 896 The Pilgrims had heard, perhaps, of the Iron Maiden.

1977 P. Spielberg Hermetic Whore 142 A mechanical monster patented by the same company that manufactured racks and iron maidens in the old world.

1992 A. Kurzweil Case of Curiosities xv. 111 What instrument of inquisitorial torture would be used—thumbscrews or the iron maiden?

b. In extended use: an object which constricts or confines a person or body part.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > [noun] > means of restraint or restraining force

bridleeOE

bridea1425

restraint1523

aweband1531

bit1546

retentive1580

control1594

curb1613

hank1613

constriction1650

retinue1651

check1661

spigot1780

brake1875

way-chain1884

tab1889

inhibitor1902

check-cord1908

iron maiden1912

inhibition1932

1912 Sat. Evening Post 29 June 7/1 We always speak of our corset as the Iron Maiden.

1962 F. I. Ordway et al. Basic Astronautics xii. 465 Submerged in this water-filled ‘iron maiden’..a subject was able to withstand 31 G for a period of 5 sec.

1972 Life 14 Jan. 66/1 Boots are light and flexible, not the massive, rigid iron maidens used for downhill.

1992 S. King in Cemetery Dance Fall 12/2 He had spent four months in bed and another ten in a heavy brace his wife Lita called the Iron Maiden.

2. figurative or in figurative context. A cause of intense torment; a torturous situation.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > cause of mental pain or suffering > [noun]

sorrowOE

ail?c1225

scorpion?c1225

dolec1290

angera1325

anguishc1330

cupa1340

aggrievancea1400

discomfortc1405

afflictionc1429

sytec1440

pressurea1500

constraint1509

tenterhook1532

grief1535

annoying1566

troubler1567

griper1573

vexation1588

infliction1590

trouble1591

temptationc1595

load1600

torment1600

wringer1602

sorance1609

inflicting1611

brusha1616

freighta1631

woe-heart1637

ordeala1658

cut-up1782

unpleasure1792

iron maiden1870

mental cruelty1899

1870 Treasury of Lit. & Ladies' Treasury Nov. 188/1 He has converted the grace and gentleness that should be a source of light, consolation, and refreshment to the human soul, into the Iron Maiden of the old torture chamber.

1903 W. Meynell B. Disraeli I. i. 53 He had escaped the mould and thumb-screw of public school, the university iron-maiden.

1919 Insurance Press 14 May 6/1 [He] has been squirming under an ever-tightening ‘iron maiden’ of increasing domestic and personal expenses.

1958 J. Baldwin in Mademoiselle Mar. 104/1 Then she hated herself; thinking into what an iron maiden of love and hatred he had placed her, she hated him even more.

2003 A. Greenwald Nothing feels Good iii. xii. 194 Chris is now caught in an emotional iron maiden of his own design.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	iron maiden
释义	iron maidenn. Brit. /ˌʌɪən ˈmeɪdn/, U.S. /ˌaɪ(ə)rn ˈmeɪd(ə)n/ Forms: also with capital initials. Origin: Formed within English, by compounding; modelled on a German lexical item. Etymons: iron adj., maiden n. Etymology: < iron adj. + maiden n., after German eiserne Jungfer (1751 in the passage translated in quot. 1757 at sense 1a, or earlier; now usually Eiserne Jungfrau (hist.)). 1. a. An instrument of torture, supposedly used during the Middle Ages, consisting of an upright box lined with iron spikes, into which the victim is shut. ΘΚΠ society > authority > punishment > torture > instrument or place of torture > [noun] > iron maiden iron maiden1757 iron virgin1837 iron maid1859 1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. II. l. 182 This instrument the French call Oubliettes, but at present no more of it is to be seen, in this castle, than of the iron maidens [Ger. eiserne Jungfern] (concerning which so many idle stories are told) at the castle of Plassenburg, the white tower at Prague and other places. 1837 Handbk. Travellers S. Germany xiv. 330/1 There is a tradition that the Iron Maiden (Eiserne Jungfrau) was the instrument employed here. 1891 Times 9 Nov. 13/5 It is believed that the ‘Iron Maiden’ is purely and peculiarly a relic of old Nuremberg. 1916 Jrnl. Amer. Inst. Criminal Law & Criminol. 6 896 The Pilgrims had heard, perhaps, of the Iron Maiden. 1977 P. Spielberg Hermetic Whore 142 A mechanical monster patented by the same company that manufactured racks and iron maidens in the old world. 1992 A. Kurzweil Case of Curiosities xv. 111 What instrument of inquisitorial torture would be used—thumbscrews or the iron maiden? b. In extended use: an object which constricts or confines a person or body part. ΘΚΠ society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > [noun] > means of restraint or restraining force bridleeOE bridea1425 restraint1523 aweband1531 bit1546 retentive1580 control1594 curb1613 hank1613 constriction1650 retinue1651 check1661 spigot1780 brake1875 way-chain1884 tab1889 inhibitor1902 check-cord1908 iron maiden1912 inhibition1932 1912 Sat. Evening Post 29 June 7/1 We always speak of our corset as the Iron Maiden. 1962 F. I. Ordway et al. Basic Astronautics xii. 465 Submerged in this water-filled ‘iron maiden’..a subject was able to withstand 31 G for a period of 5 sec. 1972 Life 14 Jan. 66/1 Boots are light and flexible, not the massive, rigid iron maidens used for downhill. 1992 S. King in Cemetery Dance Fall 12/2 He had spent four months in bed and another ten in a heavy brace his wife Lita called the Iron Maiden. 2. figurative or in figurative context. A cause of intense torment; a torturous situation. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > cause of mental pain or suffering > [noun] sorrowOE ail?c1225 scorpion?c1225 dolec1290 angera1325 anguishc1330 cupa1340 aggrievancea1400 discomfortc1405 afflictionc1429 sytec1440 pressurea1500 constraint1509 tenterhook1532 grief1535 annoying1566 troubler1567 griper1573 vexation1588 infliction1590 trouble1591 temptationc1595 load1600 torment1600 wringer1602 sorance1609 inflicting1611 brusha1616 freighta1631 woe-heart1637 ordeala1658 cut-up1782 unpleasure1792 iron maiden1870 mental cruelty1899 1870 Treasury of Lit. & Ladies' Treasury Nov. 188/1 He has converted the grace and gentleness that should be a source of light, consolation, and refreshment to the human soul, into the Iron Maiden of the old torture chamber. 1903 W. Meynell B. Disraeli I. i. 53 He had escaped the mould and thumb-screw of public school, the university iron-maiden. 1919 Insurance Press 14 May 6/1 [He] has been squirming under an ever-tightening ‘iron maiden’ of increasing domestic and personal expenses. 1958 J. Baldwin in Mademoiselle Mar. 104/1 Then she hated herself; thinking into what an iron maiden of love and hatred he had placed her, she hated him even more. 2003 A. Greenwald Nothing feels Good iii. xii. 194 Chris is now caught in an emotional iron maiden of his own design. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.1757
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