OIr.; fiondruine, fionndruine MidIr.; findrinny, findrina, findriny
[Old Irish find-bruine, white bronze (?)]
A precious metal often cited in early Irish manuscripts as having a value lower than gold but higher than bronze, thought to be an amalgam of silver and probably copper and perhaps even some gold. Some commentators suggest it was a counterpart of orichalch, orichalcum, esteemed by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The metal was sufficiently hard to be hammered into thin sheets and fine wires; wellborn maidens are described as wearing sandals made of findruine.
