Carborundum

American  

[kahr-buh-ruhn-duhm] / ˌkɑr bəˈrʌn dəm /

Trademark.

1. a form of manufactured silicon carbide used industrially as an abrasive and refractory.

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Carborundum British  

/ ˌkɑːbəˈrʌndəm /

noun

1. 1. any of various abrasive materials, esp one consisting of silicon carbide

   2. ( as modifier )

      a Carborundum wheel

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Example Sentences

During an ill-judged cleaning operation, much of the patina was literally scraped away with wire brushes, copper chisels and coarse carborundum, also known as silicon carbide, a harsh abrasive cleaning agent that was deemed inappropriate even back then.

From New York Times

Along the way, try to remember what your fellow Floridian, Gen. Joe Stillwell, who led the fight against Imperial Japan in China, Burma and India, adopted as his Latin motto: “Illegitimi non carborundum.”

From Fox News

On Tuesday McCain cast further shade against the president by tweeting, "As my father always used to say to me - Illegitimi non carborundum."

From Salon

As my father always used to say to me - Illegitimi non carborundum.

From Washington Times

He whetted the shining blade a long time on a little carborundum stone.

From Literature