Definition
A silver-colored alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc that contains no actual silver. It is hard, corrosion resistant, and used in aviation for items such as rivets, hardware, and electrical contact components where strength and resistance to tarnish are needed.
Plain English
A metal mixture that looks like silver but is really made from copper, nickel, and zinc. It is tough and does not corrode easily.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance and materials discussions, especially when identifying metal parts, fittings, or instrument components.
Derivation
Called 'nickel silver' because of its silvery appearance and its nickel content. The name describes the look, not the contents — there is no silver in it at all.
Why Pilots Care
A pilot or mechanic should not assume a part is made of real silver just because it is called nickel silver. Correct material identification matters for repair, corrosion control, and replacement parts.
Intuition Check
Nickel silver does not mean silver mixed with nickel. It means a silver-colored copper alloy that contains nickel and usually zinc.
Example Sentence 1
The small hardware fittings were made of nickel silver because the alloy resists corrosion in humid conditions.
Example Sentence 2
Nickel silver fittings were specified for the instrument panel because they resist corrosion in humid conditions.