babbit

Babbitt is a term that can refer to several distinct concepts. Most commonly, it is used to describe a soft, low-friction alloy, typically made of tin, lead, copper, and antimony. These alloys, often referred to as white metal bearings or bearing metals, are used as a lining material in plain bearings. The purpose of the babbitt lining is to reduce friction between the rotating shaft and the stationary bearing housing. Its softness allows it to conform to the shaft, providing a bearing surface that minimizes wear on the more expensive shaft.

The term "babbitt" also refers to a fictional character created by Sinclair Lewis. George F. Babbitt, the protagonist of Lewis's 1922 novel of the same name, is a middle-aged real estate agent in the American Midwest. The novel satirizes the materialism, conformity, and superficiality of the American middle class during the 1920s, and the term "babbittry" has come to denote a person or mindset characterized by unthinking conformity and a blind devotion to conventional values and material success.

In a different context, "Babbitt" is also the surname of Isaac Babbitt, an American inventor who patented the babbitt metal alloy in 1839, hence the name given to the bearing material. His invention was significant in the development of machinery and transportation, as it greatly improved the efficiency and lifespan of bearings.