From Middle English peutre, from Old French peautre, from Vulgar Latin *peltrum (“pewter”), which is of uncertain origin. Possibly related to spelter.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) An alloy of approximately 93–98% tin and 1–2% copper, and the balance of antimony.
the pewter plates on the dresser
Caught and reflected the flame 1847 November 1, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, a Tale of Acadie, Boston, Mass.: William D. Ticknor & Company, →OCLC, (please specify either |part=I or II):
(countable, historical, uncountable) An alloy of tin and lead.
(countable, uncountable) Items made of pewter; pewterware.
(countable, uncountable) A beer tankard made from pewter.
The room was arranged by low wooden partitions into bays, where eight or ten men could sit together and rest their pewters and glasses on the narrow tables between. 1876, Edward Jenkins, The Devil's Chain, page 86:
When ranged up, these were discovered to be the tumbler, the pannikin, and the cracked cup aforesaid, a pickle jar, a jam pot, and a battered pewter marked "Britannia Hotel," a diversity of receptacles that called for the highest mathematical skill in measuring out an exact quantity to each guest. 1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 26:
(countable, uncountable) A dark, dull grey colour, like that of the metal.
cs cínová šeď (colour) · de Zinnseidel (a beer tankard made from pewter) · hu ónkupa (a beer tankard made from pewter) · fi tinanharmaa (colour) · mi piuta (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · gl peltre (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · it peltro (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · mi piuta (alloy of tin and lead) · de Hartzinn (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · pl pewter (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · sw rangi ya pyuta (colour) · ru сплав о́лова со свинцо́м (alloy of tin and lead) · nl peauter (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · hu ónserleg (a beer tankard made from pewter) · da tin (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · pl cynołów (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · fr potin gris (alloy of tin and lead) · ja しろめ (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · de Zinnkrug (a beer tankard made from pewter) · ca peltre (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · gl peltre (alloy of tin and lead) · ja 白目 (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · sv tenn (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · ru пью́тер (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · hu ónötvözet (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · ja ピューター (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · fi tina (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · fro peautre (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · cmn 錫鑞 /锡镴 (alloy of tin and lead) · cy piwter (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · pt peltre (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · nl hardtin (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · fi kovatina (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · sw pyuta (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · mk калај (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · fi tina (alloy of tin and lead) · fi tinaseos (alloy of tin and lead) · fr potin (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · yi ענגלישע צין (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · fi astiatina (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · ga péatar (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · ms piuter (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · cmn 白鑞 /白镴 (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · es peltre (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · ro aliaj alb (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · bg пютър (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · cs cínová slitina (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · nl peauter (alloy of tin and lead) · sv hårdtenn (alloy of tin, copper and antimony) · fr métal blanc (alloy of tin, copper and antimony)