Damascus steel

noun

Da·​mas·​cus steel də-ˈma-skəs- 

: hard elastic steel ornamented with wavy patterns and used especially for sword blades

Examples of Damascus steel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The exception is its 30-mm (1.2-in) fold-out cutting blade, which is composed of Damascus steel. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2025

From the 67 layers of Japanese Damascus steel to the forest green Pakkawood handle, there’s a lot to love about the knife. —Christopher Murray, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2025

The blade has a wavy pattern signature to Damascus steel, and it’s connected to an equally stunning forest green wood handle. —Euna Park, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Dec. 2024

It’s made from Damascus steel with a VG-MAX core, which is a much higher-carbon content steel than most bread knives. —Jesse Raub, Bon Appétit, 2 Dec. 2024

With blades forged from 67 layers of Damascus steel complemented by African blackwood handles, these knives are designed equally for style and durability. —Leah Muncy, Architectural Digest, 20 Sep. 2024

Then there’s the British chef and farmer Ben Bodman, who makes carbon Damascus steel knives with swirling patterns on the blades and myrtlewood and rosewood handles in Melksham, a small town in Wiltshire, England, under the label Bodman Blades. —Ellie Pithers Wei Tchou Alice Newell-Hanson Caitie Kelly Betsy Horan Jinnie Lee Megan O’Sullivan, New York Times, 24 July 2023

The total length is 14 3/8-inches, and the high-definition Damascus steel blade measures 9 inches long. —Jace Bauserman, Field & Stream, 19 July 2023

The blade steel: A nakiri’s blade is fairly thin (approximately 1 to 2.5 millimeters) and either made from high-quality carbon steel or Damascus steel, which tends to be harder than that of Western knives. —Lauren Joseph, Bon Appétit, 17 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1727, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Damascus steel

• automobile
• periosteal
• peritoneal
• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel
• conceal
• congeal
• coquille
• corneal