steelie

English

Etymology

steel +‎ -ie.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈstiːli/
  • Homophones: steely, stele
  • Rhymes: -iːli
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

steelie (plural steelies)

  1. (US) A zinc-coated steel version of the one-cent coin, produced during World War II because of copper shortages.
    the jewel of his collection, a steelie from 1943
  2. A steel bearing ball used as a marble.
    the heaviest in his collection, an old steelie from the junkyard
    • 2006, Carol Benson, The Old Lonesome, page 84:
      The steelies were just balls of steel, industrially ugly and not part of most girls' collections. There were four sizes of marbles and we called them boulders, biggies, regulars, and teenies.
  3. (colloquial, automotive) A steel wheel.
    old Mopars wearing steelies with dog dishes
  4. (usually plural only, informal) steel-toe boots.
    Better wear your steelies when he's around. [Implies that he is clumsy.]

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