bell metal

American  

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.

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bell metal British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of bell metal

First recorded in 1535–45

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bell metal

Varying proportions of copper and tin give gun metal, bell metal, babbitt metal and many another alloy, the greater the percentage of tin the harder being the resulting composition.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From The Journal to Stella by Jonathan Swift

But he made them his own by smelting the rough ore into bell metal.

From Byron by John Nichol

Bells, Steam-Whistles, and in fine every variety of article manufactured from brass or bell metal will be made at this foundry.

From The History of Louisville, from the Earliest Settlement till the Year 1852 by Ben Casseday

The preserving pan should be made of bell metal, flat at the bottom, very large in diameter, but not deep.

From The Virginia Housewife by Mary Randolph

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