damas

a. [ L. Damascenus of Damascus, fr. Damascus the city, Gr. Damasko`s. See Damask, and cf. Damaskeen, Damaskin, Damson. ] Of or relating to Damascus. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A kind of plum, now called damson. See Damson. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. decorated or inlaid with a wavy pattern of different (especially precious) metals; -- of metallic objects; as, a damascened sword.
Syn. -- damascene. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. (Geography) The capital city of Syria. Population (2000) = 1, 549, 932. [ PJC ]

Damascus blade, a sword or scimiter, made chiefly at Damascus, having a variegated appearance of watering, and proverbial for excellence. --
Damascus iron, or
Damascus twist, metal formed of thin bars or wires of iron and steel elaborately twisted and welded together; used for making gun barrels, etc., of high quality, in which the surface, when polished and acted upon by acid, has a damask appearance. --
Damascus steel. See Damask steel, under Damask, a. [ 1913 Webster ]

. See Damask steel, under Damask. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ From the city Damascus, L. Damascus, Gr. Damasko`s, Heb. Dammesq, Ar. Daemeshq; cf. Heb. d'meseq damask; cf. It. damasco, Sp. damasco, F. damas. Cf. Damascene, Damassé. ] 1. Damask silk; silk woven with an elaborate pattern of flowers and the like. “A bed of ancient damask.” W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Linen so woven that a pattern in produced by the different directions of the thread, without contrast of color. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A heavy woolen or worsted stuff with a pattern woven in the same way as the linen damask; -- made for furniture covering and hangings. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Damask or Damascus steel; also, the peculiar markings or “water” of such steel. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A deep pink or rose color. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Pertaining to, or originating at, the city of Damascus; resembling the products or manufactures of Damascus. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having the color of the damask rose. [ 1913 Webster ]

But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud,
Feed on her damask cheek. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Damask color, a deep rose-color like that of the damask rose. --
Damask plum, a small dark-colored plum, generally called damson. --
Damask rose (Bot.), a large, pink, hardy, and very fragrant variety of rose (Rosa damascena) from Damascus. “Damask roses have not been known in England above one hundred years.” Bacon. --
Damask steel, or
Damascus steel, steel of the kind originally made at Damascus, famous for its hardness, and its beautiful texture, ornamented with waving lines; especially, that which is inlaid with damaskeening; -- formerly much valued for sword blades, from its great flexibility and tenacity. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Damasked p. pr. & vb. n. Damasking. ] To decorate in a way peculiar to Damascus or attributed to Damascus; particularly: (a) with flowers and rich designs, as silk; (b) with inlaid lines of gold, etc., or with a peculiar marking or “water, ” as metal. See Damaskeen. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mingled metal damasked o'er with gold. Dryde&unr_;. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the soft, downy bank, damasked with flowers. Milton.