Citations:dross

English citations of dross

Worthless matter.
- c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii], page 171:
  Mor. […] What ſaies this leaden casket? / Who chooſeth me, muſt giue and hazard all he hath. / Muſt giue,for what? for lead, hazard for lead? / This casket threatens men that hazard all / Doe it in hope of faire aduantages : / A golden minde ſtoopes not ſhowes of droſſe, / Il then nor giue nor hazard ought for lead.
- 1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, book 1, ch. 1, "Midas'":
  Valiant manful habits, soul of a Nation's worth, which all the metal of Potosi cannot purchase back; to which the metal of Potosi, and all you can buy with it, is dross and dust!
Residue (of metals).
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 1:22:
  Thy ſiluer is become drosse, thy wine mixt with water.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 1:25:
  ¶ And I will turne my hand vpon thee, and purely purge away thy drosse, and take away all thy tinne.