white metal

American  

noun

1. any of various light-colored alloys, as Babbitt metal or Britannia metal.

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white metal British  

noun

1. Also called: antifriction metal.  any of various alloys, such as Babbitt metal, used for bearings

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Etymology

Origin of white metal

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

white metal

The company is Ridwell, and if you drive the residential streets of the San Francisco Bay Area or Los Angeles, you’re likely to see the company’s signature white metal boxes on porches.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2026

For the white metal, the price probably got ahead of fundamentals — and $70 to $80 an ounce makes “more sense” than $110 to $120 an ounce from a fundamental standpoint, he said.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 5, 2026

The white metal surged above $120 last month during a record-breaking rally, before plunging more than 30% last Friday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026

"Three years ago, everything we were making was white metal, people liked that low key, less bright yellow look. I think customers thought it was underplaying it."

From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2026

There is a handrail leading up the concrete stairs, lined with thin white metal bars that have rusted in places, reddish-brown flecks peeking through the chipped paint.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day