Babbitt's metal

English

Etymology

See babbitt metal.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈbæbɪts ˌmɛtəl/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈbæbɪts ˌmɛtəl/, [-ɾəl]
• Hyphenation: Bab‧bitt's me‧tal

Noun

Babbitt's metal (countable and uncountable, plural Babbitt's metals)

1. Rare form of babbitt metal.
   • 1878 April, William D. Marks, “Crank Pins and Journals”, in Journal of the Franklin Institute, page 234:

     The supposed superiority of brass or Babbitt's metal lined boxes over iron boxes, in positions very liable to heating, lies in their greater softness and conductivity for heat.

   • 1897, Aluminum World, page 29:

     In 1839 Isaac Babbitt, a goldsmith of Boston, Mass., discovered the alloy known as Babbitt's metal which is used the world over in bearings of machinery.

   • 1899, “Importance of Good Bearing Metals”, in The Foundry, page 130:

     So-called Babbitt's metals made principally of lead, and weighing six ounces per cubic inch, are dear at any price, when compared with the tin Babbitt's metals which weight but 4¼ ounces per cubic inch, and never heat or cut journals.

Anagrams

• Babbitt metals, babbitt metals