Any of various heat-treated steel alloys of great toughness and hardness, used in tools for high-speed cutting and drilling (especially those in which the components may become red hot from friction); frequently attributive.
Origin
Early 20th century.
Definition of high-speed steel in US English:
high-speed steel
noun
Any of various heat-treated steel alloys of great toughness and hardness, used in tools for high-speed cutting and drilling (especially those in which the components may become red hot from friction); frequently attributive.