Definition of "terne"

Colourless, drab, dull.  examples

(also attributively) An alloy coating made of lead and tin (or, more recently, zinc and tin), often with some antimony, used to cover iron or steel.  examples

Synonym of terneplate (“thin iron or steel sheeting coated with this alloy”)  examples

Obsolete spelling of tern (“any of various seabirds of the subfamily Sternidae (of the family Laridae) that are similar to gulls but are smaller and have a forked tail”)  examples