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Definition 2024

steelie ‎(plural steelies)

(US) A zinc-coated steel version of the one-cent coin, produced during World War II because of copper shortages.
A steel ball bearing or marble.
- 2006, Carol Benson, The Old Lonesome (page 84)
  The steelies were just balls of steel, industrially ugly and not part of most girls' collections. There were four sizes of marbles and we called them boulders, biggies, regulars, and teenies.