Foundry

Forms: 7 fondary, -ery, founderie, 8 -ary, 8–9 -ery, 9 foundry, [a. F. fond(e)rie, f. foudre: see FOUND v.³]

  1.  The art or business of founding or casting metal; concr. founders’ work, castings.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, II. 565. This art of grauing images in stone is of greater antiquitie by farre, than … founderie and casting statues.

1793.  Smeaton, Edystone L., § 279, note. The ingenious Mr. Prickett, to whom the Iron Foundery of this kingdom owes much, is still living.

1890.  Daily News, 6 Jan., 2/3. Cut nails are advanced … and a similar run is declared in heavy iron foundry, mill-rolls, wheels, etc.

  2.  An establishment or building in which founding of metal or glass is carried on.

1645.  Evelyn, Mem. (1819), I. 194. The founderie where they cast ordinance.

c. 1730.  Burt, Lett. N. Scotl. (1818), I. 258. This man was by trade a smith, and dwelt near an English foundery in Glengary.

1853.  Ure, Dict. Arts, I. 915 (art. Glass-making).

1880.  Miss Braddon, Just as I am, xliii. Her grandfather and yours were fellow-workmen together in the same foundry.

  fig.  1711.  Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), I. 320. Thus I contend with Fancy and Ppinion; and search the Mint and Foundery of Imagination.

1794.  Sullivan, View Nat., IV. 249. When they called the nursery of irresistible legions, the foundary of the human race?

  † b.  (See quots.) Obs.

1670–98.  Lassels, Voy. Italy, I. 3. The Fondaries or Stilling-Houses of the Great Duke of Florence.

1674.  Blount, Glossogr., Fondery (Fr.) a Stilling-house.

  3.  attrib. and Comb., as foundry-coke, -furnace, -goods, -man; foundry-iron, iron containing sufficient carbon to make it suitable for castings; foundry-proof, the final proof before stereotyping or electrotyping (Jacobi).

1892.  Daily News, 6 Aug., 8/6. Wanted by Colliery Proprietors, an Agent, to sell *foundry coke.

1884.  Knight, Dict. Mech., 355/2. *Foundry Furnace.… Reverberating and blast furnaces.

1831.  J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, I. 71. The production of that endless variety of smaller and generally useful articles, denominated *foundery goods.

1863.  Robson, Bards of Tyne, 357, The Stars o’ Hartlepool.