Vulcan

From Latin Vulcānus, probably from Etruscan although very unclear, but unknown meaning and further origin (see more in Latin entry). Doublet of bolcane and volcano.

A town in Vulcan County, southern Alberta, Canada.

A ghost town in Gunnison County, Colorado.


blacksmith

From black (color of forged iron) + smith (related to smite)..

compound

The blacksmith may forge what Religion he pleases.

1640, I. H. [i.e., James Howell], ΔΕΝΔΡΟΛΟΓΊΑ [DENDROLOGIA]. Dodona’s Grove, or, The Vocall Forrest, London: […] T[homas] B[adger] for H. Mosley [i.e., Humphrey Moseley] […], →OCLC:

Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out.[…]. Ikey the blacksmith had forged us a spearhead after a sketch from a picture of a Greek warrior; and a rake-handle served as a shaft.

1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:

Close to the hump-backed bridge on the lane leading into the Hambleden Valley is a mid-19th-century smithy, its inside walls hung with tools of the blacksmith's trade, though decorative wrought-ironwork is now the main product from its glowing forge.

1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 214, about Hambleden:


blacksmithing

The pigs had set aside the harness-room as a headquarters for themselves. Here, in the evenings, they studied blacksmithing […]

1945, George Orwell, chapter III, in Animal Farm:


Hephaestus

From Ancient Greek Ἥφαιστος (Hḗphaistos), a pre-Greek word of unknown origin.

(Greek mythology) The god of fire, smithwork, metallurgy, volcanoes, and artisans, who served as blacksmith of the gods. His Roman counterpart is Vulcan.


strike while the iron is hot

en-verb

strike while the iron is hot (third-person singular simple present strikes while the iron is hot, present participle striking while the iron is hot, simple past and past participle struck while the iron is hot)

strikes while the iron is hot (present singular third-person)
striking while the iron is hot (participle present)
struck while the iron is hot (participle past)
struck while the iron is hot (past)

(metallurgy, blacksmithing, literally) To strike a hot piece of metal, especially iron, with a mallet or other tool before it cools, while it is still hot enough to be shaped.


about sledge

(blacksmithing, dated) A warning that the heavy about sledge is about to be swung, usually by a hammerman.


ironsmith

An East Indian barbet (Psilopogon faber) whose note resembles the sounds made by a smith.


burn-the-wind

(Scotland, obsolete, slang) A blacksmith.