lat·ten 
(lătn)
(lătn)n.
1. Brass or an alloy resembling brass, hammered thin and formerly used in the manufacture of church vessels.
2. A thin sheet of metal, especially of tin.
[Middle English laton, from Old French, from Arabic lāṭūn, of Turkic origin; akin to Old Turkic altun, gold, and further to Mongolian altan, gold.]