steelie

plural steelies

1. USA zinc-coated steel one-cent (penny) coin, produced during World War II because of copper shortages.

   the jewel of his collection, a steelie from 1943

2. A steel bearing ball used as a marble.

   the heaviest in his collection, an old steelie from the junkyard

   1 more example

   The steelies were just balls of steel, industrially ugly and not part of most girls' collections. There were four sizes of marbles and we called them boulders, biggies, regulars, and teenies.

   2006, Carol Benson, The Old Lonesome, page 84

3. colloquialautomotiveA steel wheel.

   old Mopars wearing steelies with dog dishes

4. informalpluralplural onlyusuallyA steel-toe boot.

   Better wear your steelies when he's around. [implying that he is clumsy]