German silver

American  

noun

1. any of various alloys of copper, zinc, and nickel, usually white and used for utensils, drawing instruments, etc.; nickel silver.

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German silver British  

noun

1. another name for nickel silver

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Etymology

Origin of German silver

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

Standing at the helm of the 100-year-old “rose engine,” he peered through a microscope at a small, square slab of German silver illuminated by a gooseneck lamp.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2023

On this day, he was adorning the German silver — a fancy name for nickel — with moiré, a wavy motif occasionally seen on high-end watches.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2023

During Tuesday’s women’s team semifinals, world No. 1 Chen Meng faced much more of a challenge than usual from German silver medalist Petrissa Solja.

From Slate • Aug. 4, 2021

The German silver and bronze matches the feat the country achieved in Sochi in the shorter parallel slalom, although that event was not retained for Pyeongchang.

From Reuters • Feb. 24, 2018

German silver is harder than silver; it resembles that metal in colour, but is of a greyer tinge.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 7 "Geoponici" to "Germany" by Various