n. [ AS. stēl, st&ymacr_;l, st&ymacr_;le; akin to D. staal, G. stahl, OHG. stahal, Icel. stāl, Dan. staal, Sw. stål, Old Prussian stakla. ] 1. (Metal) A variety of iron intermediate in composition and properties between wrought iron and cast iron (containing between one half of one per cent and one and a half per cent of carbon), and consisting of an alloy of iron with an iron carbide. Steel, unlike wrought iron, can be tempered, and retains magnetism. Its malleability decreases, and fusibility increases, with an increase in carbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An instrument or implement made of steel; as: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) A weapon, as a sword, dagger, etc. “Brave Macbeth . . . with his brandished steel.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

While doubting thus he stood,
Received the steel bathed in his brother's blood. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) An instrument of steel (usually a round rod) for sharpening knives. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) A piece of steel for striking sparks from flint. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Fig.: Anything of extreme hardness; that which is characterized by sternness or rigor. “Heads of steel.” Johnson. “Manhood's heart of steel.” Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Med.) A chalybeate medicine. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Steel is often used in the formation of compounds, generally of obvious meaning; as, steel-clad, steel-girt, steel-hearted, steel-plated, steel-pointed, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bessemer steel (Metal.) See in the Vocabulary. --
Blister steel. (Metal.) See under Blister. --
Cast steel (Metal.), a fine variety of steel, originally made by smelting blister or cementation steel; hence, ordinarily, steel of any process of production when remelted and cast. --
Chrome steel,
Chromium steel (Metal.), a hard, tenacious variety containing a little chromium, and somewhat resembling tungsten steel. --
Mild steel (Metal.), a kind of steel having a lower proportion of carbon than ordinary steel, rendering it softer and more malleable. --
Puddled steel (Metal.), a variety of steel produced from cast iron by the puddling process. --
Steel duck (Zool.), the goosander, or merganser. [ Prov. Eng. ] --
Steel mill. (a) (Firearms) See Wheel lock, under Wheel. (b) A mill which has steel grinding surfaces. (c) A mill where steel is manufactured. --
Steel trap, a trap for catching wild animals. It consists of two iron jaws, which close by means of a powerful steel spring when the animal disturbs the catch, or tongue, by which they are kept open. --
Steel wine, wine, usually sherry, in which steel filings have been placed for a considerable time, -- used as a medicine. --
Tincture of steel (Med.), an alcoholic solution of the chloride of iron. --
Tungsten steel (Metal.), a variety of steel containing a small amount of tungsten, and noted for its tenacity and hardness, as well as for its malleability and tempering qualities. It is also noted for its magnetic properties. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Steeled p. pr. & vb. n. Steeling. ] [ AS. st&ymacr_;lan: cf. Icel. staela. See Steel, n. ] 1. To overlay, point, or edge with steel; as, to steel a razor; to steel an ax. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: To make hard or strong; hence, to make insensible or obdurate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lies well steeled with weighty arguments. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why will you fight against so sweet a passion,
And steel your heart to such a world of charms? Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Fig.: To cause to resemble steel, as in smoothness, polish, or other qualities. [ 1913 Webster ]

These waters, steeled
By breezeless air to smoothest polish. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Elec.) To cover, as an electrotype plate, with a thin layer of iron by electrolysis. The iron thus deposited is very hard, like steel. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Scots Law) Those goods on a farm, such as corn, cattle, implements of husbandry, etc., which may not be carried off by a removing tenant, as being the property of the landlord. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Shipbuilding) Same as Stealer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who points, edges, or covers with steel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Zool.) A North Pacific salmon (Salmo Gairdneri) found from Northern California to Siberia; -- called also hardhead, and preestl. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The ruddy duck. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being steely. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The process of pointing, edging, or overlaying with steel; specifically, acierage. See Steel, v. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Made of steel; consisting of steel. “The steely point of Clifford's lance.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Around his shop the steely sparkles flew. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Resembling steel; hard; firm; having the color of steel. “His hair was steely gray.” The Century. [ 1913 Webster ]

She would unarm her noble heart of that steely resistance against the sweet blows of love. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

Steely iron, a compound of iron containing less than one half of one per cent of carbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So named from a place in London called the Steelyard, which was a yard in which steel was sold. ] A form of balance in which the body to be weighed is suspended from the shorter arm of a lever, which turns on a fulcrum, and a counterpoise is caused to slide upon the longer arm to produce equilibrium, its place upon this arm (which is notched or graduated) indicating the weight; a Roman balance; -- very commonly used also in the plural form, steelyards. [ 1913 Webster ]