damascus steel

4 definitions found

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

  Damascus steel \Da*mas"cus steel\
     See Damask steel, under Damask.
     [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

  Damask \Dam"ask\, a.
     1. Pertaining to, or originating at, the city of Damascus;
        resembling the products or manufactures of Damascus.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Having the color of the damask rose.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud,
              Feed on her damask cheek.             --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Damask color, a deep rose-color like that of the damask
        rose.
  
     Damask plum, a small dark-colored plum, generally called
        damson.
  
     Damask rose (Bot.), a large, pink, hardy, and very fragrant
        variety of rose (Rosa damascena) from Damascus. "Damask
        roses have not been known in England above one hundred
        years." --Bacon.
  
     Damask steel, or Damascus steel, steel of the kind
        originally made at Damascus, famous for its hardness, and
        its beautiful texture, ornamented with waving lines;
        especially, that which is inlaid with damaskeening; --
        formerly much valued for sword blades, from its great
        flexibility and tenacity.
        [1913 Webster]

  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]

damascus steel - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Damascus steel
      n 1: a hard resilient steel often decorated and used for sword
           blades [syn: Damascus steel, Damask steel]