Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Damascus steel \Da*mas"cus steel\
   See {Damask steel}, under {Damask}.

Damascus \Da*mas"cus\, n. [L.]
   A city of Syria.

   {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.

Damask \Dam"ask\, a.
   1. Pertaining to, or originating at, the city of Damascus;
      resembling the products or manufactures of Damascus.

   2. Having the color of the damask rose.

            But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud, Feed on
            her damask cheek.                     --Shak.

   {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      originally made at Damascus, famous for its hardness, and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.

Source : WordNet®

Damascus steel
     n : a hard resilient steel often decorated and used for sword
         blades [syn: {Damask steel}]