How Do You Spell TYPE METAL?

1. Type metal is a type of alloy that is specifically designed for use in traditional metal type casting. It is a composition predominantly made up of lead along with smaller amounts of antimony and tin, which work together to produce a highly durable and malleable material. The primary purpose of type metal is to create individual characters or blocks for use in letterpress printing, where each letter or symbol is cast and arranged manually to form words and sentences.

   The addition of antimony in type metal improves its hardness and resistance to wear, allowing the typefaces to remain intact for extended periods of printing. Meanwhile, tin is included to improve the flow characteristics of the molten alloy and enhance its casting properties. Type metal also possesses high thermal conductivity, which aids in transferring heat away from the molten metal during the casting process, thus resulting in precise and detailed reproduction of each character.

   Due to its specific formulation, type metal is not suitable for other general casting purposes. The high lead content makes it toxic and unsuitable for contact with food or prolonged handling without proper precautions. However, in the context of letterpress printing, type metal has played a vital role in the history of typography, enabling the mass production of movable type and making printed materials accessible to broader audiences.

   In summary, type metal is a specialized alloy used in letterpress printing, composed mainly of lead, with antimony and tin added to enhance its durability, castability, and thermal properties.

2. An alloy of lead, antimony, and tin, used in making types.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for TYPE METAL

The term "type metal" refers to an alloy used in the production of printing types, which are the individual metal letters used in traditional printing presses. The etymology of "type metal" mainly stems from the word "type" and its association with typography, printing, and the Latin word "typus".

The word "type" has origins in the Greek word "tupos", meaning "a blow, impression, or mold". Later in Latin, it became "typus", maintaining a similar meaning related to printing and marking. The Latin word "typus" then evolved into Old French as "tipe", denoting a symbol, figure, or character used in printing.

As for the term "metal", it originated from the Old English word "metall", which derived from the Latin word "metallum", indicating "mineral substance" or "ore".