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Obstinate in disobedience; contumacious; stubborn; unmanageable; as, a refractory child; a refractory beast. Raging appetites that are Most disobedient and refractory. Shak.

A frame for confining a refractory horse while the smith is shoeing him; also, an inclosure to restrain cattle, horses, etc. A horse . . . which Philip had bought . . . and because of his fierceness kept him within a brake of iron bars. J. Brende.

ral marine shell, esp. the common whelk. See Buccinum. [Scot.] Deil's buckie, a perverse, refractory youngster. [Slang]

A refractory material used as a furnace lining, obtained by calcining the cinder or slag from the puddling furnace of a rolling mill.

Kicking. Hence: Stubborn; refractory.

He was unwilling to cancel the interest created through former secret services, by being refractory on this occasion. Sir W. Scott.

e management of a case; as, the defendant has able counsel. The King found his counsel as refractory as his judges. Macaulay.

A vessel or melting pot, composed of some very refractory substance, as clay, graphite, platinum, and used for melting and calcining substances which require a strong degree of heat, as metals, ores, etc.

ustion, as by the action of intense heat; to burn or vaporize suddenly; as, to deflagrate refractory metals in the oxyhydrogen flame.

cting or refusing to obey; omitting to do what is commanded, or doing what is prohibited; refractory; not observant of duty or rules prescribed by authority; -- applied to persons and acts. This disobedient spirit in the colonies. Burke. Disobedient unto the word of the Lord. 1 Kings xiii. 26.

ws, etc.); to transgress the commands of (one in authority); to violate, as an order; as, refractory children disobey their parents; men disobey their Maker and the laws. Not to disobey her lord's behest. Tennyson.

- Fire box, the chamber of a furnace, steam boiler, etc., for the fire. -- Fire brick, a refractory brick, capable of sustaining intense heat without fusion, usually made of fire clay or of siliceous material, with some cementing substance, and used for lining fire boxes, etc. -- Fire brigade, an organized body of me…

A refractory material consisting of crushed or ground siliceous stone, mixed with fire clay; -- used for lining Bessemer converters; also used for macadamizing roads.

Not wild, turbulent, or refractory; quiet and docile; tame; peaceable; as, a gentle horse.

Wild or intractable; disposed to break away from duty; untamed; as, a haggard or refractory hawk. [Obs.] Shak

r directed; indisposed to be taught, disciplined, or tamed; violent; stubborn; obstinate; refractory; as, an intractable child.

Obstinate; willful; refractory. [Obs.] -- Per`vi*ca"cious*ly, adv. -- Per`vi*ca"cious*ness, n. [Obs.]

Kicking back; recalcitrating; hence, showing repugnance or opposition; refractory.

In a refractory manner; perversely; obstinately.

The quality or condition of being refractory.