Damascus steel

American

noun

hand-wrought steel, made in various Asian countries, from parts of a bloom of heterogeneous composition, repeatedly folded over and welded and finally etched to reveal the resulting grain: used especially for sword blades.

Damascus steel British

noun

history a hard flexible steel with wavy markings caused by forging the metal in strips: used for sword blades

"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 Damascus steel

First recorded in 1720–30

Example Sentences

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See Examples For:

Damascus steel

“Being back in the studio helps give me a sense of normalcy,” Berkofsky said as he hammered the red-hot Damascus steel on an anvil.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2025

His most valuable piece is a Luftwaffe sword with a Damascus steel blade, worth $12,000.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 30, 2015

He makes Bowie knives, hunting knives and daggers using mammoth bone, gold wire inlay and Damascus steel, which he forges.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 3, 2015

But the idea to start experimenting with Damascus steel was more of an accident than the first step in a plan to produce knives.

From Forbes ● Mar. 27, 2015

Of the Moslem army the greater number wore mail, some carrying lances and scimitars of Damascus steel, others being armed with light long-bows.

From Historical Tales - The Romance of Reality - Volume VII by Charles Morris

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023