Pew"ter (?), n. [OE. pewtyr, OF. peutre, peautre, piautre: cf. D. peauter, piauter, It. peltro, Sp. & Pg. peltre, LL. peutreum, pestrum. Cf. Spelter.]
1.
A hard, tough, but easily fusible, alloy, originally consisting of tin with a little lead, but afterwards modified by the addition of copper, antimony, or bismuth.
2.
Utensils or vessels made of pewter, as dishes, porringers, drinking vessels, tankards, pots.
⇒ Pewter was formerly much used for domestic utensils. Inferior sorts contain a large proportion of lead.
© Webster 1913.