Reference > Brewer’s Dictionary > Ice-brook.

 Ice-blink (The).Ice Saints or Frost Saints. 
CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
 
Ice-brook.
 
A sword of ice-brook temper. Of the very best quality. The Spaniards used to plunge their swords and other weapons, while hot from the forge, into the brook Salo [Xalon], near Bilbilis, in Celtiberia, to harden them. The water of this brook is very cold.   1
       
“It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook temper.”
       
Shakespeare: Othello, v. 2.
       
“Sævo Bilbilin op’timam metallo
Et ferro Plat’eam suo sonantem
Quam fluctu tenui sed inquie’to
Armo’rum Salo tempera’tor ambit.”
       
Martial.
 


 Ice-blink (The).Ice Saints or Frost Saints. 

 
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