tombac Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an alloy of copper and zinc (and sometimes arsenic) used to imitate gold in cheap jewelry and for gilding
    tombak; tambac.

WordNet

Tom"bac noun
Etymology
Pg. tambaca,tambaque, fr. Malay tambaga copper; cf. Skr. tamraka; cf. F. tombac.
Definitions
  1. (Metal.) An alloy of copper and zinc, resembling brass, and containing about 84 per cent of copper; -- called also German, ∨ Dutch, brass. It is very malleable and ductile, and when beaten into thin leaves is sometimes called Dutch metal. The addition of arsenic makes white tombac. Written also tombak, and tambac.

Webster 1913