main de fer

Etymology
, from.

Noun

 * 1) * 1522 March, record, in 1867, Calendar of state papers, pages 1557-8: also in 2015, J. S. Brewer, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII, Cambridge University Press (ISBN 9781108066068), page 1557-8:
 * 181 yds. yellow satin, at 8s., for bordering the 4 gentlemen&#39;s bards and bases; 3 yds. crimson satin, at 9s., for lining a headpiece, a pasguard, a main de fer and 2 gauntlets; 1 yd. white sarsnet, for girdles, 3s.
 * 181 yds. yellow satin, at 8s., for bordering the 4 gentlemen&#39;s bards and bases; 3 yds. crimson satin, at 9s., for lining a headpiece, a pasguard, a main de fer and 2 gauntlets; 1 yd. white sarsnet, for girdles, 3s.

Noun

 * 1)  iron fist