speculum metal
noun
any of several bronze alloys with a high tin content, often containing other materials, as silver, brass, lead, zinc, or arsenic, used for making mirrors and reflectors.
Also called
speculum,
speculum alloy.
Origin of speculum metal
First recorded in 1790–1800
Words nearby speculum metal
speculative fiction,
speculative philosophy,
speculator,
speculum,
speculum forceps,
speculum metal,
sped,
spee,
speech,
speech act,
speech bulb
Example sentences from the Web for speculum metal
Bell-metal, gun-metal, and speculum-metal are mere varieties of bronze.
British Dictionary definitions for speculum metal
speculum metal
noun
a white hard brittle corrosion-resistant alloy of copper (55–70 per cent) and tin with smaller amounts of other metals. It takes a high polish and is used for mirrors, lamp reflectors, ornamental ware, etc