damascus iron

1 definition found

damascus iron - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Damascus \Damascus\ prop. n. (Geography)
     The capital city of Syria. Population (2000) = 1,549,932.
     [PJC]
  
     Damascus blade, a sword or scimiter, made chiefly at
        Damascus, having a variegated appearance of watering, and
        proverbial for excellence.
  
     Damascus iron, or Damascus twist, metal formed of thin
        bars or wires of iron and steel elaborately twisted and
        welded together; used for making gun barrels, etc., of
        high quality, in which the surface, when polished and
        acted upon by acid, has a damask appearance.
  
     Damascus steel. See Damask steel, under Damask, a.
        [1913 Webster]