- gunmetal
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/gun"met'l/, n.1. any of various alloys or metallic substances with a dark gray or blackish color or finish, used for chains, belt buckles, etc.2. Also called gunmetal gray. a dark gray with bluish or purplish tinge.3. a bronze formerly much used for cannon.4. an alloy of 88 percent copper, 10 percent tin, and 2 percent zinc, cast or machined for use in valves, gears, and other parts.Also, gun metal.[1535-45; GUN1 + METAL]
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also called G Metal,variety of bronze, formerly used for ordnance. Modern admiralty gunmetal is composed of 88 percent copper, 10 percent tin, and 2 percent zinc and is used for gears and bearings that are to be subjected to heavy loads and low speeds. It withstands atmospheric, steam, and seawater corrosion and is suitable for valves, pump parts, and steam fittings.* * *
Universalium. 2010.