babbitt

About 0.59 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun Ellipsis of babbitt metal or Babbitt metal (“a soft white alloy of variable composition used in bearings to diminish friction”).

   Running while low on oil had galled the babbitt.

2. verb To line (something) with babbitt metal to reduce friction.

   The main bearings were babbitted and line-bored.

3. noun Alternative letter-case form of Babbitt (“a person who subscribes complacently to materialistic middle-class ideals”).

Similar words

babbitt metal bung batten baize bush rebush bolter blatch bard boucherize

Often followed by

and metal was is had in has to of

Word family

Babbitt Babbittries Babbittry Babbitts Babbitty Irving Babbitt