any of various alloys of tin with small amounts of other metals (especially lead)
"The antique bowl was crafted from heavy pewter, an alloy of tin mixed with a small amount of lead."
An alloy of approximately 93–98% tin, 1–2% copper, and the balance of antimony.
"The antique bowl was crafted from pewter, an alloy composed mainly of tin with small amounts of copper and antimony."
In plain English: Pewter is a soft, dull gray metal made by mixing tin with other metals that was once used to make plates and cups but isn't very strong today.
"The old man carefully polished his pewter tankard until it shone with a soft gray luster."
Usage: Pewter is primarily used as an adjective to describe objects with a specific dull grey color resembling the traditional alloy rather than referring to the material itself in modern contexts. When describing items made from this soft tin-based mixture, it functions best when emphasizing its characteristic matte finish over other metals like silver or steel.
To coat with pewter.
"The artisan carefully coated the wooden bowl with melted pewter to create a smooth, metallic finish."
Of a dark, dull grey colour, like that of the metal.
"The old man's face was weathered into a pewter hue by decades of wind and sun."
"The pewter statue on my mantelpiece has been tarnished by time."
The word pewter comes from the Middle English peutre, borrowed through Old French from a form of unknown Latin origin that likely meant "pewter." Its exact roots remain unclear, though it may be connected to the word for zinc known as spelter.