or Damasking, the art of ornamenting iron or steel, by making incisions on its surface, and filling them up with some other metal, generally gold or silver. It is chiefly used for enriching sword-blades, guards, locks of pistols, &c.

There are two ways of damasking; the one, which is the finest, is when the metal is cut deep with proper instruments, and inlaid with gold and silver wire; the other is superficial only. This art is of great antiquity, and its invention is attributed by Herodotus (i. 25) to Glaucus of Chios, who lived B.C. 490. It would appear to have flourished at some period in Damascus, whence the name is generally derived.