bell metal

noun

1. an alloy of about 80 percent copper and 20 percent tin, sometimes with small amounts of lead and zinc, having low damping qualities and used especially for bells.

bell metal

noun

1. an alloy of copper and tin, with some zinc and lead, used in casting bells

Word History and Origins

Origin of bell metal¹

First recorded in 1535–45

Example Sentences

The bells were cast in Spain and much silver jewellery and household plate were melted with the bell-metal.

From Project Gutenberg

Tin also occurs as sulphide combined with sulphides of copper and iron in the mineral stannine or bell-metal ore.

From Project Gutenberg

Bronze, bell-metal, and probably all the other alloys of tin with copper present the same peculiarities.

From Project Gutenberg

By this process, from 100 pounds of bell metal, about 50 pounds of copper were extracted, containing only one per cent.

From Project Gutenberg

Now I think of it, tell the Bishop of Clogher, he shall not cheat me of one inch of my bell metal.

From Project Gutenberg