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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread metal #118968 01/06/2004 7:25 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 In a list of American words compared with English equivalents, Mencken gives American (railroad) ballast as equavalent of British "metal". I suspect railroad "ballast" was an extension of use of stones to add weight just above keel of boat to improve lateral stability. I cannot imagine how "metal" came to mean preparation for laying railway tracks in England. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: metal #118969 01/06/2004 7:38 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 how "metal" came to mean preparation for laying railway tracks in England From AHD4: Metal 5. Broken stones used for road surfaces or railroad beds. See http://www.bartleby.com/61/48/M0244800.html Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: metal #118970 01/06/2004 8:00 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 Dear Faldage: What I was wondering was when metal came to be used for malleable,ductile substances suitable for tools, weapons,armor, etc.? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: metal #118971 01/06/2004 8:06 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Ah! Have to check the OED on that one Dr Bill. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,915 Posts230,273 Members9,208 Most Online4,606 Sep 17th, 2025 Newest Members JerryC, blvd, Tony Hood, Wood Delivery, Forix Richard 9,208 Registered Users Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 24 A C Bowden 6 JerryC 1 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 wofahulicodoc 11,131 tsuwm 10,542 LukeJavan8 9,974 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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