tombac

[ tom-bak ]
/ ˈtɒm bæk /

noun

an alloy, used to imitate gold, containing from 70 to 92 percent copper with zinc and sometimes tin and other materials forming the remainder.
Also tambac.

Origin of tombac

1595–1605; < Dutch tombak < Portuguese tambaca < Malay tembaga copper < Indo-Aryan (compare Hindi tambiyā copper or brass vessel, Sanskrit tāmraka copper

Example sentences from the Web for tombac

British Dictionary definitions for tombac

tombac

tambac (ˈtæmbæk)

/ (ˈtɒmbæk) /

noun

any of various brittle alloys containing copper and zinc and sometimes tin and arsenic: used for making cheap jewellery, etc

Word Origin for tombac

C17: from French, from Dutch tombak, from Malay tambâga copper, apparently from Sanskrit tāmraka, from tāmra dark coppery red