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pinchbeck

American  
[pinch-bek] / ˈpɪntʃ bɛk /

noun

  1. an alloy of copper and zinc, used in imitation of gold.

  2. something sham, spurious, or counterfeit.


adjective

  1. made of pinchbeck.

  2. sham, spurious, or counterfeit.

    pinchbeck heroism.

pinchbeck British  
/ ˈpɪntʃˌbɛk /

noun

  1. an alloy of copper and zinc, used as imitation gold

  2. a spurious or cheap imitation; sham

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. made of pinchbeck

  2. sham, spurious, or cheap

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

There were many years when the late, great Val Pinchbeck would put it together then go down to Augusta to enjoy the Masters, and that tournament was in the books two weeks ago.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2025

Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive of Energy UK, pointed to the problem of not being able to build onshore wind farms.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2024

Inside, there were displays of timepieces from labels that have received international attention, including Christopher Ward and Fears, alongside many less well-known brands, such as Geckota, Isotope Watches, Pinchbeck and Pinion.

From New York Times • Apr. 13, 2024

Bingham had been publisher of the now-defunct Open City Magazine, which Beller had co-founded with Daniel Pinchbeck in 1990.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2023

Will you give Mrs. Pinchbeck your arm, Colonel?

From Dramatic Technique by Baker, George Pierce