The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Babbitt metal \Bab"bitt met`al\ [From the inventor, Isaac
   Babbitt of Massachusetts.]
   A soft white alloy of variable composition (as a nine parts
   of tin to one of copper, or of fifty parts of tin to five of
   antimony and one of copper) used in bearings to diminish
   friction.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Babbitt metal
    n 1: an alloy of tin with some copper and antimony; a lining for
         bearings that reduces friction [syn: Babbitt metal,
         babbitt]