pinch-beck
bɛk noun
1.
an alloy of copper and zinc, used in imitation of gold.
2.
something sham, spurious, or counterfeit.
adjective
3.
made of pinchbeck.
4.
sham, spurious, or counterfeit: pinchbeck heroism.
Origin:
1725–35; named after Christopher Pinchbeck (died 1732), English watchmaker and its inventor
1725–35; named after Christopher Pinchbeck (died 1732), English watchmaker and its inventor
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To pinch-beck
00:10
Pinch-beck
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
pinchbeck (ˈpɪntʃˌbɛk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | an alloy of copper and zinc, used as imitation gold |
| 2. | a spurious or cheap imitation; sham |
| —adj | |
| 3. | made of pinchbeck |
| 4. | sham, spurious, or cheap |
| [C18 (the alloy), C19 (something spurious): after Christopher Pinchbeck (?1670--1732), English watchmaker who invented it] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
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