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tombac

(Science: chemistry) An alloy of copper and zinc, resembling brass, and containing about 84 per cent of copper; called also german, or 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.

Alternative forms: tombak, and tambac.

Origin: Pg. Tambaca,tambaque, fr. Malay tambaga copper; cf. Skr. Tamraka; cf. F. Tombac.