Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TUNG'STEN, n. [Sw. and Dan. tung, heavy, and sten, stone.]

1. A metal discovered by D'Elhuyart in 1781. It has a grayish white color, and considerable luster. It is brittle, nearly as hard as steel, and less fusible than manganese Its specific gravity is near 17.6. When heated to redness in the open air, it takes fire, and is converted into tungstic acid. It is sometimes called Wolframium.
2. An obsolete name for a mineral which is an impure tungstale of lime.