malleable, a.
(ˈmælɪəb(ə)l)
Also 4–6 malliable, 5 malyable, mallyable, 7 malable, 8 mallable.
[a. OF. malleable, ad. L. *malleābil-is, f. L. malleāre to malleate: see -able.]
1. Having the property (possessed by certain substances, esp. metals) of being deprived of form by hammering or pressure, without a tendency or capacity to return to it, or to fracture.
malleable iron: iron which has been decarburized by oxidation under prolonged heat and rendered capable of being malleated in a slight degree.
| c 1386 Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 577 Make as good siluer and as fyn As ther is any in youre purse or myn..and make it malliable. c 1407 Lydg. Reas. & Sens. 6814 Men kan nat maken yt plicable Nor forge yt to be Malliable. c 1450 Lydg. & Burgh Secrees 2125 Science nor Crafft to hym was delectable, but to forge malyable mataylle. 1568 Grafton Chron. I. 123 A certeyn craftes man had found out the Art of..melting of Glasse in such sort, as he made the same malliable. 1692 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 365 An invention to melt and make malleable a sort of oar found among the tinn mines. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. I. 469 Metals are malleable or ductile under the hammer. 1822 J. Imison Sci. & Art II. 95 Zinc is very little malleable, except when heated. 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 650 The ease with which cast-iron can be made into any required shape has..given to rails of that material a decided superiority over those of malleable-iron. 1881 Sir J. Evans Anc. Bronze Impl. 11 One alloy of copper and tin is rendered most malleable by rapid cooling. 1889 G. Findlay Eng. Railway 40 The first malleable iron rail was patented by J. Birkenshaw, in 1820. 1898 Engineering Mag. XVI. 105 Examples..are found in malleable-iron castings. |
¶ b. In etymological sense. Of stone: That may be dressed with a hammer.
| 1665 J. Webb Stone-Heng (1725) 209 When the Stones were once down,..Men might, as they found them more or less malleable, for their own Advantage..make Use of them. |
2. transf. and fig. Capable of being fashioned or adapted.
| 1612 Ld. Rochester in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 119 Your enemies have objected..that you are too violent, which signifies in Court language not malleable to their use. 1663 Butler Hud. i. i. 182 He..could tell..Who first made Musick malleable. 1796 Burke Regic. Peace iii. 32 We grow more malleable under their blows. 1802 Wolcot (P. Pindar) Horrors Bribery Wks. 1812 V. 211 Courtiers..Were made of very malleable matter. 1849 H. Rogers Ess. (1874) I. 227 To seize a language in its rude state, and compel it..to become a malleable material of thought, is the exclusive prerogative of the highest species of minds. 1882 Times 21 July 10 The Chancellorship of the Duchy so remoulded would cease to be malleable; it would cease to be capable of discharging unappropriated duties. |