What is "blister steel"

Steel \Steel\ (st[=e]l), n. [AS. st[=e]l, st[=y]l, st[=y]le; akin to D. staal, G. stahl, OHG. stahal, Icel. st[=a]l, Dan. staal, Sw. st[*a]l, Old Prussian stakla.]

1. (Metal) A variety of iron intermediate in composition and properties between wrought iron and cast iron (containing between one half of one per cent and one and a half per cent of carbon), and consisting of an alloy of iron with an iron carbide. Steel, unlike wrought iron, can be tempered, and retains magnetism. Its malleability decreases, and fusibility increases, with an increase in carbon.

2. An instrument or implement made of steel; as:

   1. A weapon, as a sword, dagger, etc. ``Brave Macbeth . . . with his brandished steel.''
      --Shak.

      While doubting thus he stood, Received the steel bathed in his brother's blood.
      --Dryden.

   2. An instrument of steel (usually a round rod) for sharpening knives.

   3. A piece of steel for striking sparks from flint.

3. Fig.: Anything of extreme hardness; that which is characterized by sternness or rigor. ``Heads of steel.''
   --Johnson. ``Manhood's heart of steel.''
   --Byron.

4. (Med.) A chalybeate medicine. --Dunglison. Note: Steel is often used in the formation of compounds, generally of obvious meaning; as, steel-clad, steel-girt, steel-hearted, steel-plated, steel-pointed, etc. Bessemer steel (Metal.) See in the Vocabulary. Blister steel. (Metal.) See under Blister. Cast steel (Metal.), a fine variety of steel, originally made by smelting blister or cementation steel; hence, ordinarily, steel of any process of production when remelted and cast. Chrome steel, Chromium steel (Metal.), a hard, tenacious variety containing a little chromium, and somewhat resembling tungsten steel. Mild steel (Metal.), a kind of steel having a lower proportion of carbon than ordinary steel, rendering it softer and more malleable. Puddled steel (Metal.), a variety of steel produced from cast iron by the puddling process. Steel duck (Zo["o]l.), the goosander, or merganser. [Prov. Eng.] Steel mill.

   1. (Firearms) See Wheel lock, under Wheel.

   2. A mill which has steel grinding surfaces.

   3. A mill where steel is manufactured.

      Steel trap, a trap for catching wild animals. It consists of two iron jaws, which close by means of a powerful steel spring when the animal disturbs the catch, or tongue, by which they are kept open.

      Steel wine, wine, usually sherry, in which steel filings have been placed for a considerable time, -- used as a medicine.

      Tincture of steel (Med.), an alcoholic solution of the chloride of iron.

      Tungsten steel (Metal.), a variety of steel containing a small amount of tungsten, and noted for its tenacity and hardness, as well as for its malleability and tempering qualities. It is also noted for its magnetic properties.

Blister \Blis"ter\, n. [OE.; akin to OD. bluyster, fr. the same root as blast, bladder, blow. See Blow to eject wind.]

1. A vesicle of the skin, containing watery matter or serum, whether occasioned by a burn or other injury, or by a vesicatory; a collection of serous fluid causing a bladderlike elevation of the cuticle.

   And painful blisters swelled my tender hands.
   --Grainger.

2. Any elevation made by the separation of the film or skin, as on plants; or by the swelling of the substance at the surface, as on steel.

3. A vesicatory; a plaster of Spanish flies, or other matter, applied to raise a blister.
   --Dunglison.

   Blister beetle, a beetle used to raise blisters, esp. the Lytta vesicatoria (or Cantharis vesicatoria), called Cantharis or Spanish fly by druggists. See Cantharis.

   Blister fly, a blister beetle.

   Blister plaster, a plaster designed to raise a blister; -- usually made of Spanish flies.

   Blister steel, crude steel formed from wrought iron by cementation; -- so called because of its blistered surface. Called also blistered steel.

   Blood blister. See under Blood.

n. Crude steel formed from wrought iron by cementation.