pot-metal
(ˈpɒtˌmɛtəl)
[f. pot n.1]
1. An alloy of lead and copper of which pots were formerly made.
| 1693 Povey in Phil. Trans. XVII. 736 Bell-metal being Copper and Tin, Pot-metal Copper and Lead. About 20l. of Lead is usually put into 100l. of Pot-metal. 1832 Carlyle Remin. i. 38 Tinkers also, making pot metal,..often came upon the scene. |
2. Stained glass coloured in the melting-pot, so that the colour pervades the whole substance.
| 1832 G. R. Porter Porcelain & Gl. 290 Small pieces of glass coloured throughout during the process of its original manufacture..called by artists pot metal. 1898 Daily News 6 Jan. 6/1 Stained glass is coloured ‘in the pot’, by means of metallic oxides; hence ‘pot metal’, as the technical name for this kind of glass. 1899 Q. Rev. Jan. 171 In these windows pot-metal glass is used as far as possible for the larger pieces of ruby or other colour. |
3. A kind of cast iron suitable for making pots.
| 1864 Webster, Pot-metal... The metal from which iron pots are made, different from common pig iron. 1875 in Knight Dict. Mech. |