Re-frăct'o-ry1, a.
a. [Lat. refractarius, from refringere, Fr. refractaire, Sp. refractario, It. refrattario.] 1. Sullen or perverse in opposition or disobedience; obstinate in non-compliance; contumacious; unmanageable; as, a refractory child; a refractory beast. Raging appetites that are Most disobedient and refractory. Shak. 2. Hence, resisting ordinary treatment; said especially of metals and the like, not readily yielding to heat, or to the hammer; difficult of fusion, reduction, or the like. Syn.—Perverse; contumacious; unruly; stubborn; obstinate; ungovernable; unmanageable.