Plural of damascene; ornamental objects or weapons decorated with inlaid gold or silver patterns, typically originating from Damascus.
From Damascus, the capital of Syria, where this metalworking technique was perfected during medieval times. The term entered English via French and Italian as trade brought these luxury goods to Europe.
Damascus steel was so famous for its strength and beauty that knights and kings treasured it—medieval swordsmiths tried for centuries to recreate the technique by observing the wavy patterns in the metal.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.