pig bed

American  

noun

Metallurgy.

1. a bed of sand for molding pigs into which molten metal is poured.

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pig bed British  

noun

1. a bed of sand in which pig iron is cast

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Etymology

Origin of pig bed

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

The metal poured out of the furnace in a continuous, blinding white explosion hung with fans of sparkling gold; the channels of the pig bed rapidly filled with the fluid iron.

From Project Gutenberg

They stood for a while in the cast house, watching a keeper rolling and preparing the pig bed for the evening flow.

From Project Gutenberg