pewter

What it means

1. countableuncountableAn alloy of approximately 93–98% tin and 1–2% copper, and the balance of antimony.

   the pewter plates on the dresser Caught and reflected the flame

   1847 November 1, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, a Tale of Acadie, Boston, Mass.: William D. Ticknor & Company, →OCLC, (please specify either |part=I or II)

2. countablehistoricaluncountableAn alloy of tin and lead.
3. countableuncountableItems made of pewter; pewterware.

In a sentence

the pewter plates on the dresser Caught and reflected the flame

1847 November 1, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, a Tale of Acadie, Boston, Mass.: William D. Ticknor & Company, →OCLC, (please specify either |part=I or II)

Where it comes from

1. Vulgar Latin*peltrum“pewter”
2. Old Frenchpeautre
3. Middle Englishpeutre
4. Englishpewter

From Middle English peutre, from Old French peautre, from Vulgar Latin *peltrum (“pewter”), which is of uncertain origin. Possibly related to spelter.