Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TIN, n. [Sax. tin; D. tin; G. zinn; Sw. tenn; Dan. tin, pewter, and tinblik, tin, that is, tin-plate; Ir. stan; W. ystaen, that is spread or is sprinkled over, a stain, and tin; Corn. staen; Arm. stean; Fr. etain; L. stannum; Sp. estaño; Port. estanho; It. stagno. The latter signifies tin, pewter, and a pond, L. stagnum.]

1. A white metal, with a slight tinge of yellow. It is soft, non-elastic, very malleable, and when a bar of it is bent near the ear, distinguished by a crackling sound called the cry of tin. It is used for culinary vessels, being for this purpose usually combined with lead, forming pewter; and alloyed with small proportions of antimony; copper, and bismuth, is formed into various wares resembling silver, under the names of block-tin, britannia, &c. Equal parts of tin and lead compose soder. Tin united with copper in different proportions, forms bronze, bell-metal, and speculum-metal. D. Olmsted
2. Thin plates of iron covered with tin.