ironclad

I"ron*clad`, a. 1. Clad in iron; protected or covered with iron, as a vessel for naval warfare. 2. Rigorous; severe; exacting; as, an ironclad oath or pledge. [Colloq.] I"ron*clad`, n. Defn: A naval vessel having the parts above water covered and protected by iron or steel usually in large plates closely joined and made sufficiently thick and strong to resist heavy shot.

---