terne

American  

[turn] / tɜrn /

noun

1. terne metal.

2. terneplate.

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terne British  

/ tɜːn /

noun

1. Also called: terne metal.  an alloy of lead containing tin (10–20 per cent) and antimony (1.5–2 per cent)

2. Also called: terne plate.  steel plate coated with this alloy

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Etymology

Origin of terne

C16: perhaps from French terne dull, from Old French ternir to _tarnish

Example Sentences

O. N. tjörn, a small lake, Norse tjönn, tjörn, Sw. tjärn, M. E. terne, a lake.

From Scandinavian influence on Southern Lowland Scotch by Flom, George Tobias

Examine cassiterite, tin foil, "terne plate," "bright plate."

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Williams, Rufus Phillips

Avec ce beau cadet roux, Bras dessus et bras dessous, Mine altiere et couleur terne, Vint le Sire de Sauterne;      "Bons amis, J'ai couche chez Agassiz!"

From The Complete Poems of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow by Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth

Avec ce beau cadet roux, Bras dessus et bras dessous, Mine altière et couleur terne, Vint le Sire de Sauterne: "Bons amis, J'ai couché chez Agassiz!"

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 96, October 1865 by Various

Lead is employed as an alloy of tin for covering sheet-iron in "terne plate."

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Williams, Rufus Phillips