adj. /uy"euhrn klad"/ ; n. /uy"euhrn klad'/ , adj.
1. covered or cased with iron plates, as a ship for naval warfare; armor-plated.
2. very rigid or exacting; inflexible; unbreakable: an ironclad contract.
n.
3. a wooden warship of the middle or late 19th century having iron or steel armor plating.
[ 1850-55; IRON + CLAD 1 ]