† Steel glass

Obs.

  1.  A mirror made of polished steel, whether an ordinary looking-glass or an optical instrument of some special construction.

1530.  [see GLASS sb.¹ 8 b].

1542.  in Archæol. Jrnl., XVIII. 139. Item oone square Loking stele glasse sett in crymsen vellat.

1553.  T. Wilson, Rhet., 78 b. With that he offered him at his commynge a stele glasse to loke in.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 71. A woman,… the onely steele glasse for man to beholde hys infirmities, by comparinge them wyth woemens perfections.

1614.  Bp. Hall, Recoll. Treat., 901. As some steel-glasses, wherein the Sun looks and shewes his face in the variety of those colours which he hath not.

1677.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 120. Near which is hung a Mirrour or steel-Glass.

  2.  (See quot. 1753.)

1662.  Merrett, Neri’s Art Glass, Notes 342. Cardan. l. 2. [= XI] de variet. c. 57. Glasses call’d Steel Glasses [orig. Specula chalibea uocata] are made of three parts of Brass, of one part of Tin and Silver, and an 18^th part of Antimony.

1675.  Boyle, in Phil. Trans., X. 348. Those metalline Specula, whether plain or concave, that are call’d Steel-glasses.

1753.  Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., Steel glasses, a name given by some authors to the metalline spheres used in optics.