pewter n.

early 14c., peutre, "any of various alloys having tin as their main constituent" (the usual ratio is one part lead to four parts tin), used to make tableware, beer pots, and church vessels, from Old French peautre (12c.) and Medieval Latin peutrum, from Vulgar Latin *peltrum "pewter" (source of Spanish peltre, Italian peltro), a word of uncertain origin. From mid-15c. as "tableware of pewter;" by late 14c. as an adjective. Related: Pewterer.