pinchbeck

noun

1. (uncountable, usually)An alloy of copper and zinc once used as imitation gold for cheap jewelry.

adj

1. (not-comparable)Made of pinchbeck.

   “on the inside were suspended a variety of watches, pinchbeck, silver, and one or two of gold”

2. Sham; spurious, artificial; being a cheap substitution; only superficially attractive.

   “Where, in these pinchbeck days, can we hope to find the old agricultural virtue in all its purity?”

   “Vain Delight must have lost her freshness, and be older and more pinchbeck.”

   “The second point on which I wish to offer a remark is the existence (in the novel) of a person named Schomberg. That I believe him to be true goes without saying. I am not likely to offer pinchbeck wares to my public consciously.”

   “Coming at a time when Alexander was trying desperately to halt Napoleon's advance, the British response to his call for help appeared even more pinchbeck than it was.”

   “Anyway, at least I had created the pinchbeck crown in which Dai could place his jewel.”

name

1. (countable, uncountable)A village and civil parish in South Holland district, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom (OS grid ref TF2425).
2. (countable, uncountable)A surname.