Sentence:  the rage ... betook itself at last to certain missile weapons; which, though from their <WSD>plastic</WSD> nature they threatened neither the loss of life or of limb, were, however, sufficiently dreadful to a well-dressed lady. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Capable of being moulded; malleable, flexible, pliant. (from 17th c.)