naval brass

American  

noun

1. an alloy of about 60 percent copper and 40 percent zinc, with traces of lead, tin, arsenic, and iron, used in marine and steam-generating equipment.

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Etymology

Origin of naval brass

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

North Korean naval brass were also on hand, watching from a nearby viewing stand.

From Washington Times • Sep. 8, 2023

The Pearl Harbor attack is pictured, from a conference of Japanese naval brass all the way through the fateful Sunday morning when the carrier-based Japanese squadrons flew in low over Oahu's mountains.

From Time Magazine Archive