Ironmongery

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Items made of iron or metal used in construction and repair such as locks, hinges, and nails ; a store that sells metal goods and building hardware
2. Metal fittings and accessories used for doors, windows, and furniture ; a retail shop specializing in ironware and related materials
3. Various metallic components for fixing and assembling structures ; a commercial outlet offering a range of iron and metal household products

Etymology: The word "ironmongery" is built from "iron" and "monger," and the second part is the key to its meaning. "Monger" comes from Old English "mangere," a dealer or trader, and it survives in older compounds like "fishmonger" and "costermonger." So an ironmonger was originally simply a dealer in iron goods, and the trade's name gave rise to the abstract noun for the wares themselves. The suffix "-ery" is a French-derived ending that turns a person or trade into the goods or business associated with it, as in "grocery" or "drapery." Putting the two together produced a noun for the whole category of hardware, from hinges and locks to nails and handles, along with the shops that sold them.