blister steel

Steel \Steel\ (st[=e]l), n. [AS. st[=e]l, st[=y]l, st[=y]le;
   akin to D. staal, G. stahl, OHG. stahal, Icel. st[=a]l, Dan.
   staal, Sw. st[*a]l, Old Prussian stakla.]
   1. (Metal) A variety of iron intermediate in composition and
      properties between wrought iron and cast iron (containing
      between one half of one per cent and one and a half per
      cent of carbon), and consisting of an alloy of iron with
      an iron carbide. Steel, unlike wrought iron, can be
      tempered, and retains magnetism. Its malleability
      decreases, and fusibility increases, with an increase in
      carbon.
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   2. An instrument or implement made of steel; as: 
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      (a) A weapon, as a sword, dagger, etc. "Brave Macbeth . .
          . with his brandished steel." --Shak.
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                While doubting thus he stood,
                Received the steel bathed in his brother's
                blood.                            --Dryden.
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      (b) An instrument of steel (usually a round rod) for
          sharpening knives.
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      (c) A piece of steel for striking sparks from flint.
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   3. Fig.: Anything of extreme hardness; that which is
      characterized by sternness or rigor. "Heads of steel."
      --Johnson. "Manhood's heart of steel." --Byron.
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   4. (Med.) A chalybeate medicine. --Dunglison.
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   Note: Steel is often used in the formation of compounds,
         generally of obvious meaning; as, steel-clad,
         steel-girt, steel-hearted, steel-plated, steel-pointed,
         etc.
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   {Bessemer steel} (Metal.) See in the Vocabulary.

   {Blister steel}. (Metal.) See under {Blister}.

   {Cast steel} (Metal.), a fine variety of steel, originally
      made by smelting blister or cementation steel; hence,
      ordinarily, steel of any process of production when
      remelted and cast.

   {Chrome steel}, {Chromium steel} (Metal.), a hard, tenacious
      variety containing a little chromium, and somewhat
      resembling {tungsten steel}.

   {Mild steel} (Metal.), a kind of steel having a lower
      proportion of carbon than ordinary steel, rendering it
      softer and more malleable.

   {Puddled steel} (Metal.), a variety of steel produced from
      cast iron by the puddling process.

   {Steel duck} (Zool.), the goosander, or merganser. [Prov.
      Eng.]

   {Steel mill}.
      (a) (Firearms) See {Wheel lock}, under {Wheel}.
      (b) A mill which has steel grinding surfaces.
      (c) A mill where steel is manufactured.

   {Steel trap}, a trap for catching wild animals. It consists
      of two iron jaws, which close by means of a powerful steel
      spring when the animal disturbs the catch, or tongue, by
      which they are kept open.

   {Steel wine}, wine, usually sherry, in which steel filings
      have been placed for a considerable time, -- used as a
      medicine.

   {Tincture of steel} (Med.), an alcoholic solution of the
      chloride of iron.

   {Tungsten steel} (Metal.), a variety of steel containing a
      small amount of tungsten, and noted for its tenacity and
      hardness, as well as for its malleability and tempering
      qualities. It is also noted for its magnetic properties.
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Blister \Blis"ter\, n. [OE.; akin to OD. bluyster, fr. the same
   root as blast, bladder, blow. See {Blow} to eject wind.]
   1. A vesicle of the skin, containing watery matter or serum,
      whether occasioned by a burn or other injury, or by a
      vesicatory; a collection of serous fluid causing a
      bladderlike elevation of the cuticle.
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            And painful blisters swelled my tender hands.
                                                  --Grainger.
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   2. Any elevation made by the separation of the film or skin,
      as on plants; or by the swelling of the substance at the
      surface, as on steel.
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   3. A vesicatory; a plaster of Spanish flies, or other matter,
      applied to raise a blister. --Dunglison.
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   {Blister beetle}, a beetle used to raise blisters, esp. the
      {Lytta vesicatoria} (or {Cantharis vesicatoria}), called
      {Cantharis} or {Spanish fly} by druggists. See
      {Cantharis}.

   {Blister fly}, a blister beetle.

   {Blister plaster}, a plaster designed to raise a blister; --
      usually made of Spanish flies.

   {Blister steel}, crude steel formed from wrought iron by
      cementation; -- so called because of its blistered
      surface. Called also {blistered steel}.

   {Blood blister}. See under {Blood}.
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