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iron-sick

or i·ron·sick

[ ahy-ern-sik ]
/ ˈaɪ ərnˌsɪk /
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adjective Nautical.
noting a wooden hull, fastened with iron, in which chemical interaction between the iron and the wood has resulted in the decay of both; nail-sick.
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Origin of iron-sick

First recorded in 1620–30

OTHER WORDS FROM iron-sick

iron sickness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use iron-sick in a sentence

  • That old ship of the faith was leaky and iron-sick, and down by the head and heel, as they say at sea.

    'Charge It'|Irving Bacheller
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