wootz
English
Etymology
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, "Probably from a misreading of an English transcription of Kannada ಉಕ್ಕು, ಉರ್ಕು (ukku, urku, “steel”); akin to Tamil [script needed] (uruku, “to melt”) and [script needed] (urukku, “melted thing, steel”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /wuːts/
- Rhymes: -uːts
Noun
wootz (countable and uncountable, plural wootzes)
- A famous type of steel from India, much admired for making sword blades.
- 1863, The celebrated wootz or steel of India, made in little cakes of only about two pounds weight, possesses qualities which no European steel can surpass. — Industrial Biography, Samuel Smiles, 1963.
- 1884, The word first appears in 'Experiments and Observations to investigate the Nature of a Kind of Steel manufactured at Bombay, and there called Wootz,' ... By G. Pearson, M.D. (paper read before the Royal Soc., June 11, 1795). — Robert F. Burton, The Book of the Sword, page 110.
Usage notes
In earlier usage it appears as simply wootz (see quotations), later being referred to as wootz steel
See also
- Wikipedia article on Wootz Steel