Gunmetal Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

gunmetal American [guhn-met-l] / ˈgʌnˌmɛt l / Or gun metal

noun

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.

gunmetal British / ˈɡʌnˌmɛtəl /

noun

1. a type of bronze containing copper (88 per cent), tin (8–10 per cent), and zinc (2–4 per cent): used for parts that are subject to wear or to corrosion, esp by sea water

2. any of various dark grey metals used for toys, belt buckles, etc

3. 1. a dark grey colour with a purplish or bluish tinge

   2. ( as adjective )

      gunmetal chiffon

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of gunmetal

First recorded in 1535–45; gun 1 + metal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The greatest success of this bookstore,” she said in closing, flashing a smile as bright as her gunmetal gray hair, “is uniting all of you.”

From Los Angeles Times

As dawn breaks and dusk settles, the play of light and shadow turns the river green or gunmetal gray, lustrously pearlescent or mottled brown.

From Los Angeles Times

A figure in gunmetal gray skirts spoke in a hushed but blaring tone to the room in general.

From Literature

The England captain is the subject of a 25-feet high mural on Whitehall Street, opposite the great, gunmetal dreadnought of the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

From BBC

"And then I always think that metallic as a color ... like putting on something gunmetal or bronze automatically just lifts the spirits and lifts and lifts your face. You look great."

From Reuters

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.