pinchbeck
Americannoun
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an alloy of copper and zinc, used in imitation of gold.
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something sham, spurious, or counterfeit.
adjective
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made of pinchbeck.
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sham, spurious, or counterfeit.
pinchbeck heroism.
noun
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an alloy of copper and zinc, used as imitation gold
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a spurious or cheap imitation; sham
adjective
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made of pinchbeck
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sham, spurious, or cheap
Etymology
Origin of pinchbeck
1725–35; named after Christopher Pinchbeck (died 1732), English watchmaker and its inventor
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Knowing the Shuberts' famed pinchbeck failings, Mrs. Ziegfeld began by passing on director, cast, sets and costumes.
From Time Magazine Archive
His mind takes the shape of a pinchbeck, free-lunch conquistador's.
From Time Magazine Archive
Than this pinchbeck legend of Longacre Square, there is no funnier show in town.
From Time Magazine Archive
Author Williams is satisfactorily horrifying as the murderous bellhop, a creepy, insinuating, pinchbeck manic-depressive.
From Time Magazine Archive
I recollect that Sile Bates owned a pinchbeck watch, and Squire Longbow was the proprietor of a "bull's-eye," and they were both wonders.
From The Puddleford Papers, Or Humors of the West by H. H. Riley
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
