Chapter XI

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

any thing at all

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

capable of wounding

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

plural of “boiler” — sealed vessel where water is converted to steam

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

rub with a brush, or as if with a brush

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

plural of “can” — airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

past form of “crumble” — fall apart

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

past form of “dump” — throw away as refuse

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

any material that fills a space or container

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

set up or found

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

the largest island in the world; lies between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean; a self-governing province of Denmark

From this reading WHERE IS GREENLAND?

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

relating to or existing in the mind or thoughts

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading WHERE IS GREENLAND?

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

past form of “judge” — determine the result of (a competition)

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

by chance

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

in large part; mainly or chiefly

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

not any; not one

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

and nothing more

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

above and across; more than

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

past form of “push” — move with force

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

having accumulated rust

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

make square

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

having been made square

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading The cellar was small, not over ten feet square, and we judged the house had been small--maybe an old log cabin and maybe not--but it had been a house, and it was near the creek and near the hill road, and it was the only sign of a house Jibby had been able to find.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

the upper part of anything

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

worthless material that is to be disposed of

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The corn grew close up to its edges, but it was a cellar, as plain as anything could be.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

at the time that

From this reading There was no doubt in our minds what Jibby Jones had found when we pushed through the corn and came to where he was.

in or at the place that

From this reading WHERE IS GREENLAND?

ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc

From this reading The cellar wall had been made of creek stones, piled up, and it had mostly crumbled inward, half filling the cellar and, on top of the stones, brush and trash, and old tin boilers and tin cans, and a couple of bedsprings and some old rusted barbed wire had been dumped, but there were four or five ends of squared logs, burned down to the ends, and we guessed what had happened to that house--it had burned down.