shot tower

noun

1. a tower from the top of which finely divided streams of molten lead are dropped down a central well, breaking up into spherical drops during their fall to be quenched and hardened in a tank of water at the bottom.

shot tower

noun

1. a building formerly used in the production of shot, in which molten lead was graded and dropped from a great height into water, thus cooling it and forming the shot

Word History and Origins

Origin of shot tower¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

At the moment this “atomisation” process works like an old-fashioned shot tower.

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On many of the rocks shot towers have been erected, the whole country, as is well known, abounding in lead.

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These lofty towering bluffs that rise up so perpendicularly, projecting over the river, afford every convenience for forming natural shot towers.

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The naked cliff, rising sheer above the rapid current, was, early in this century, utilized as a shot tower.

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At the time he was engaged at the shot tower business.

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