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

Example sentences from the Web for speculum metal

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