damascus steel

noun

A kind of steel used in swordmaking from about 300 BC to 1700 AD, characterized by distinctive patterns of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water.

Meanings

damascus steel1

noundamascus steel (countable and uncountable, plural damascus steels)

plural damascus steels

  1. countableuncountableAlternative letter-case form of Damascus steel.

Damascus steel2

nounDamascus steel (countable and uncountable, plural Damascus steels)

plural Damascus steels · alternative Damask steel · alternative damascus steel

  1. countableuncountableA kind of steel used in swordmaking from about 300 BC to 1700 AD, characterized by distinctive patterns of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water.
  2. countableuncountableA modern composite steel made of distinctive portionings of different steels in patterns, resembling that of ancient Damascus steel
  3. countableuncountableAny pattern-welded steel

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna hard resilient steel often decorated and used for sword blades

Broader
Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Arabic فِرِنْد
  • فِرِنْد (firind)ancient kind of steel used in sword making
Finnish damaskiteräs
  • damaskiteräsancient kind of steel used in sword making
French acier damasquiné
  • acier damasquinéancient kind of steel used in sword making
German Damaszener Stahl
  • Damaszener Stahlancient kind of steel used in sword making
Hungarian damaszkuszi acél
  • damaszkuszi acélancient kind of steel used in sword making
Italian acciaio di Damasco
  • acciaio di Damascoancient kind of steel used in sword making
Persian پرند
  • پرند (parand)ancient kind of steel used in sword making
Polish stal damasceńska
  • stal damasceńskaancient kind of steel used in sword making
Portuguese aço damasquino
  • aço damasquinoancient kind of steel used in sword making
Romanian oțel de Damasc
  • oțel de Damascancient kind of steel used in sword making
Russian була́т, дама́ск
  • була́т (bulát)ancient kind of steel used in sword making
  • дама́ск (damásk)ancient kind of steel used in sword making
  • харалу́г (xaralúg)ancient kind of steel used in sword making
Spanish acero de Damasco
  • acero de Damascoancient kind of steel used in sword making
Cite this entry
APA

damascus steel. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/damascus%20steel

MLA

“damascus steel.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/damascus%20steel. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “damascus steel,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/damascus%20steel.

Source: damascus steel on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.