GOLD-WIRE, a cylindrical ingot of silver, superficially gilt, or covered with gold at the fire, and afterwards drawn successively through a great number of little, round holes, of a wire-drawing iron, each less than the other, till it be sometimes no bigger than a hair of the head.
It may be observed, that before the wire be reduced to this excessive fineness, it is drawn through above an hundred and forty different holes; and that each time they draw it, it is rubbed afresh over with new wax, both to facilitate its passage, and to prevent the silver's appearing through it.