Chem. rare in Eng. context. [mod.L. use of late L. stannum tin, in earlier use an alloy of silver and lead; app. an altered form of the synonymous stāgnum, whence the Rom. forms, It. stagno, Sp. estaño, Pg. estanho, Pr. estanh-s, OF. estain (mod.F. étain), tin.] The chemical Latin name for tin. (Hence the symbol Sn.)
1783. Withering, trans. Bergman’s Outl. Min., 98. Stannum or Tin.
1812. Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 379. Tin or Stannum.
