latten Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun brass (or a yellow alloy resembling brass) that was hammered into thin sheets; formerly used for church utensils

WordNet

Lat"ten noun
Etymology
OE. latoun, laton, OF. laton, F. laiton, prob. fr. OF. late lath, F. latte; -- because made in thin plates; cf. It. latta a sheet of tinned iron, tin plate. F. latte is of German origin. See Lath a thin board.
Definitions
  1. A kind of brass hammered into thin sheets, formerly much used for making church utensils, as candlesticks, crosses, etc.; -- called also latten brass.
    He had a cross of latoun full of stones. Chaucer.
  2. Sheet tin; iron plate, covered with tin; also, any metal in thin sheets; as, gold latten.

Webster 1913