'Pinchbeck' definitions:

Definition of 'pinchbeck'

From: WordNet
adjective
Serving as an imitation or substitute; "pinchbeck heroism"
noun
An alloy of copper and zinc that is used in cheap jewelry to imitate gold

Definition of 'Pinchbeck'

From: GCIDE
  • Pinchbeck \Pinch"beck\, a. Made of pinchbeck; sham; cheap; spurious; unreal. "A pinchbeck throne." --J. A. Symonds. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Pinchbeck'

From: GCIDE
  • Pinchbeck \Pinch"beck\, n. [Said to be from the name of the inventor; cf. It. prencisbecco.] An alloy of copper and zinc, resembling gold; a yellow metal, composed of about three ounces of zinc to a pound of copper. It is much used as an imitation of gold in the manufacture of cheap jewelry. [1913 Webster]