Tin \Tin\, n. [As. tin; akin to D. tin, G. zinn, OHG. zin, Icel.
   & Dan. tin, Sw. tenn; of unknown origin.]
   1. (Chem.) An elementary substance found as an oxide in the
      mineral cassiterite, and reduced as a soft silvery-white
      crystalline metal, with a tinge of yellowish-blue, and a
      high luster. It is malleable at ordinary temperatures, but
      brittle when heated. It is softer than gold and can be
      beaten out into very thin strips called tinfoil. It is
      ductile at 2120, when it can be drawn out into wire which
      is not very tenacious; it melts at 4420, and at a higher
      temperature burns with a brilliant white light. Air and
      moisture act on tin very slightly. The peculiar properties
      of tin, especially its malleability, its brilliancy and
      the slowness with which it rusts make it very serviceable.
      With other metals it forms valuable alloys, as bronze, gun
      metal, bell metal, pewter and solder. It is not easily
      oxidized in the air, and is used chiefly to coat iron to
      protect it from rusting, in the form of tin foil with
      mercury to form the reflective surface of mirrors, and in
      solder, bronze, speculum metal, and other alloys. Its
      compounds are designated as stannous, or stannic. Symbol
      Sn (Stannum). Atomic weight 117.4.
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   2. Thin plates of iron covered with tin; tin plate.
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   3. Money. [Cant] --Beaconsfield.
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   Block tin (Metal.), commercial tin, cast into blocks, and
      partially refined, but containing small quantities of
      various impurities, as copper, lead, iron, arsenic, etc.;
      solid tin as distinguished from tin plate; -- called also
      bar tin.

   Butter of tin. (Old Chem.) See Fuming liquor of Libavius,
      under Fuming.

   Grain tin. (Metal.) See under Grain.

   Salt of tin (Dyeing), stannous chloride, especially so
      called when used as a mordant.

   Stream tin. See under Stream.

   Tin cry (Chem.), the peculiar creaking noise made when a
      bar of tin is bent. It is produced by the grating of the
      crystal granules on each other.

   Tin foil, tin reduced to a thin leaf.

   Tin frame (Mining), a kind of buddle used in washing tin
      ore.

   Tin liquor, Tin mordant (Dyeing), stannous chloride, used
      as a mordant in dyeing and calico printing.

   Tin penny, a customary duty in England, formerly paid to
      tithingmen for liberty to dig in tin mines. [Obs.]
      --Bailey.

   Tin plate, thin sheet iron coated with tin.

   Tin pyrites. See Stannite.
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