ironmongery

Noun

ironmongery (countable and uncountable, plural ironmongeries)

1. (Ireland, UK, dated, uncountable) Tools and hardware that can be bought in an ironmonger's shop.
   • "He came in. He had a gun. He was crazy. You can see he was crazy; look what he did to Ricky. He thought Ricky was me. He wanted to steal my adjustables. Look."
     Sonny smiled and tilted the steel case so Henry could look at the jumble of rusty ironmongery inside.1991, Stephen King, Needful Things
2. (Ireland, UK, uncountable) The trade of an ironmonger.
3. (Ireland, UK, countable) An ironmonger's shop.
4. (slang, uncountable) The various metal items used by mountaineers.
   • He also had a room strewn with the toys of the trade and what-have-you: ropes and ironmongery, buoyancy aid and bagpipes, fetid socks and half-eaten haggises, dumbbells and ski-instructor sweaters.1997, Pete McDonald, Climbing Lessons: Inside Outdoor Education, page 40
   • If, by using “ironmongery” – artificial climbing aids – you could overcome any challenge, where was the adventure?2011, Royal Geographical Society, The Alpine Club, Mountaineers: Great Tales of Bravery and Conquest, page 161