princes metal

Prince \Prince\, n. [F., from L. princeps, -cipis, the first,
   chief; primus first + capere to take. See {Prime}, a., and
   {Capacious}.]
   1. The one of highest rank; one holding the highest place and
      authority; a sovereign; a monarch; -- originally applied
      to either sex, but now rarely applied to a female.
      --Wyclif (Rev. i. 5).
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            Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince. --Milton.
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            Queen Elizabeth, a prince admirable above her sex.
                                                  --Camden.
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   2. The son of a king or emperor, or the issue of a royal
      family; as, princes of the blood. --Shak.
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   3. A title belonging to persons of high rank, differing in
      different countries. In England it belongs to dukes,
      marquises, and earls, but is given to members of the royal
      family only. In Italy a prince is inferior to a duke as a
      member of a particular order of nobility; in Spain he is
      always one of the royal family.
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   4. The chief of any body of men; one at the head of a class
      or profession; one who is pre["e]minent; as, a merchant
      prince; a prince of players. "The prince of learning."
      --Peacham.
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   {Prince-Albert coat}, a long double-breasted frock coat for
      men.

   {Prince of the blood}, {Prince consort}, {Prince of
   darkness}. See under {Blood}, {Consort}, and {Darkness}.

   {Prince of Wales}, the oldest son of the English sovereign.
      

   {Prince's feather} (Bot.), a name given to two annual herbs
      ({Amarantus caudatus} and {Polygonum orientale}), with
      apetalous reddish flowers arranged in long recurved
      panicled spikes.

   {Prince's metal}, {Prince Rupert's metal}. See under {Metal}.

   {Prince's pine}. (Bot.) See {Pipsissewa}.
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Metal \Met"al\ (? or ?; 277), n. [F. m['e]tal, L. metallum
   metal, mine, Gr. ? mine; cf. Gr. ? to search after. Cf.
   {Mettle}, {Medal}.]
   1. (Chem.) An elementary substance, as sodium, calcium, or
      copper, whose oxide or hydroxide has basic rather than
      acid properties, as contrasted with the nonmetals, or
      metalloids. No sharp line can be drawn between the metals
      and nonmetals, and certain elements partake of both acid
      and basic qualities, as chromium, manganese, bismuth, etc.
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   Note: Popularly, the name is applied to certain hard, fusible
         metals, as gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead, zinc,
         nickel, etc., and also to the mixed metals, or metallic
         alloys, as brass, bronze, steel, bell metal, etc.
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   2. Ore from which a metal is derived; -- so called by miners.
      --Raymond.
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   3. A mine from which ores are taken. [Obs.]
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            Slaves . . . and persons condemned to metals. --Jer.
                                                  Taylor.
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   4. The substance of which anything is made; material; hence,
      constitutional disposition; character; temper.
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            Not till God make men of some other metal than
            earth.                                --Shak.
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   5. Courage; spirit; mettle. See {Mettle}. --Shak.
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   Note: The allusion is to the temper of the metal of a sword
         blade. --Skeat.
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   6. The broken stone used in macadamizing roads and ballasting
      railroads.
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   7. The effective power or caliber of guns carried by a vessel
      of war.
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   8. Glass in a state of fusion. --Knight.
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   9. pl. The rails of a railroad. [Eng.]
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   {Base metal} (Chem.), any one of the metals, as iron, lead,
      etc., which are readily tarnished or oxidized, in contrast
      with the noble metals. In general, a metal of small value,
      as compared with gold or silver.

   {Fusible metal} (Metal.), a very fusible alloy, usually
      consisting of bismuth with lead, tin, or cadmium.

   {Heavy metals} (Chem.), the metallic elements not included in
      the groups of the alkalies, alkaline earths, or the
      earths; specifically, the heavy metals, as gold, mercury,
      platinum, lead, silver, etc.

   {Light metals} (Chem.), the metallic elements of the alkali
      and alkaline earth groups, as sodium, lithium, calcium,
      magnesium, etc.; also, sometimes, the metals of the
      earths, as aluminium.

   {Muntz metal}, an alloy for sheathing and other purposes,
      consisting of about sixty per cent of copper, and forty of
      zinc. Sometimes a little lead is added. It is named from
      the inventor.

   {Prince's metal} (Old Chem.), an alloy resembling brass,
      consisting of three parts of copper to one of zinc; --
      also called {Prince Rupert's metal}.
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