Brewer's: 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.

“It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook temper.”

Shakespeare: Othello, v. 2.

Sævo Bilbilin optimam metallo Et ferro Plateam suo sonantem Quam fluctu tenui sed inquieto Armorum Salo temperator ambit.

Martial.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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