Pewter
['pjuːtə] or ['pjʊtɚ]
Definition
(noun.) any of various alloys of tin with small amounts of other metals (especially lead).
Typed by Bush--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) A hard, tough, but easily fusible, alloy, originally consisting of tin with a little lead, but afterwards modified by the addition of copper, antimony, or bismuth.
(n.) Utensils or vessels made of pewter, as dishes, porringers, drinking vessels, tankards, pots.
Checker: Sigmund
Definition
n. an alloy of four parts of tin and one of lead: sometimes tin with a little copper and antimony: a vessel made of pewter esp. a beer-tankard: (slang) prize-money.—adj. made of pewter.—ns. Pew′terer one who works in pewter; Pew′ter-mill a lapidaries' polishing-wheel for amethyst agate &c.—adj. Pew′tery belonging to pewter.
Checked by Debbie
Unserious Contents or Definition
To dream of pewter, foretells straitened circumstances. See Dishes.
Checked by Basil
Examples
- These photographs, which may be considered the first durable ones that had been obtained, were, with one exception, taken on plates made of pewter. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- It replaced in many households pewter ware which, until the introduction of Sheffield plate, was the best substitute for sterling silver. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- Having given in a hearty shake, he retired, growling, under a form; just escaping the pewter measure which Mr. Sikes levelled at his head. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- Another of the boys had a voice that sounded like something between the ring of an old tomato can and a pewter jug. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Jeames will tell Chawles his notions about you over their pipes and pewter beer-pots. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- The bread she puts on in an iron basket, and the butter (and not much of it) in a small pewter plate. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- A clean cloth was spread before him, with knife, fork, and spoon, salt-cellar, pepper-box, glass, and pewter ale-pot. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
Editor: Stu