Forms: see TIN sb. and FOIL sb.1; also 6 tynfule. [f. TIN sb. + FOIL sb.1] Tin hammered or rolled into a thin sheet; also, a sheet of the same rubbed with quicksilver, used for backing mirrors and precious stones; a similar sheet of an alloy of tin and lead, used as a wrapping to protect comfits, etc., from moisture or air.
1467–8. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 92. Pro le Tynfole empt. pro ornacione et pictura del Soteltez erga festum Natal. Domini, xj d.
1477–9. Acc. Exch. K. R., Bundle 496 No. 18 (P.R.O.). Pro … Tynnefoile, Canvas [etc.]. Ibid. (1481–3), No. 26. vij dos’ Tynfoill.
1525–6. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 108. Pro preparacione le borehede et tynfule.
1586. Rates of Customs, E viij b. Tin foile the groce iiij. s.
1681. Grew, Musæum, III. II. iii. 335. With this the Tin-Foile is made to stick close to the backsides of Looking-Glasses.
1762. Franklin, Lett., etc., Wks. 1840, V. 408. It is what they call tinfoil, or leaf-tin, being tin milled between rollers.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 715. The tin-foils are only used in the case of colourless stones.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 1251. Tin-foil coated with quicksilver makes the reflecting surface of glass mirrors.
1876. Harley, Royle’s Mat. Med., 256. Tin-foil, so largely used by druggists to wrap up medicines and form capsules for bottles, is an alloy of tin, and contains from 25 to 75 per cent. of lead.
attrib. 1849. Noad, Electricity (ed. 3), 146. By a tin-foil communication, a connection is made.
1862. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 5142. Plain, fancy, and tinfoil papers.
