black lead

noun4

1. •
   Graphite, especially as used in pencils.
2. •
   (historical) A type of polish made from graphite, used for kitchen cleaning and blackening grates.

   • She always washed without soap: there were no hearth-stones nor black-lead dust for the stoves; nor a cake of whitening for the kitchen-grate […]. — 1828
3. •
   A graphite pencil.
4. •
   (historical) The metal lead.