Damascus
(dəˈmæskəs)
Formerly also in the Ital. form Damasco.
[L. Damascus, Gr. Δαµασκός, from Semitic: cf. Heb. Dammeseq, Arab. Dimashq, Dimeshq; thence Heb. d'meseq or d'mesheq, transl. ‘silken’ in Amos iii. 12 (Rev. V.).]
An ancient city, the capital of Cœle-Syria, famous for its steel and its silk fabrics. Often used attrib., as Damascus blade (see quot. 1875), etc.; also absol. = Damascus steel, etc.
Damascus iron: a combination of pieces of iron and steel welded together and rolled out, in imitation of the steel of Damascus. Damascus-twist: see quot.
| a 1625 Fletcher Elder Bro. v. i, A Milan hilt, and a Damasco blade. 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 149 A Sword not so hooked as the Damasco. 1727–51 Chambers Cycl., Damascus-steel..remarkable for its excellent temper. 1830 Mech. Mag. XIV. 31 By filing semicircular grooves into both sides of the blade, and again subjecting it to the hammer, a beautiful roset-shaped Damascus is obtained. 1846 Greener Sc. Gunnery 113 On examination of..real Damascus barrels. 1874 Knight Dict. Mech. s.v. Damascus-iron, The fineness of the Damascus depends upon the number and thickness of the alternations [of iron and steel]. Ibid., Damacus-twist, a kind of gun-barrel made of a ribbon of Damascus-iron coiled around a mandrel and welded. |