n. [ OE. sele, AS. seolh; akin to OHG. selah, Dan. sael, Sw. själ, Icel. selr. ] (Zool.) Any aquatic carnivorous mammal of the families Phocidae and Otariidae. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Seals inhabit seacoasts, and are found principally in the higher latitudes of both hemispheres. There are numerous species, bearing such popular names as sea lion, sea leopard, sea bear, or ursine seal, fur seal, and sea elephant. The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), and the ringed seal (Phoca foetida), are northern species. See also Eared seal, Harp seal, Monk seal, and Fur seal, under Eared, Harp, Monk, and Fur. Seals are much hunted for their skins and fur, and also for their oil, which in some species is very abundant. [ 1913 Webster ]

Harbor seal (Zool.), the common seal (Phoca vitulina). It inhabits both the North Atlantic and the North Pacific Ocean, and often ascends rivers; -- called also marbled seal, native seal, river seal, bay seal, land seal, sea calf, sea cat, sea dog, dotard, ranger, selchie, tangfish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. seel, OF. seel, F. sceau, fr. L. sigillum a little figure or image, a seal, dim. of signum a mark, sign, figure, or image. See Sign, n., and cf. Sigil. ] 1. An engraved or inscribed stamp, used for marking an impression in wax or other soft substance, to be attached to a document, or otherwise used by way of authentication or security. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Wax, wafer, or other tenacious substance, set to an instrument, and impressed or stamped with a seal; as, to give a deed under hand and seal. [ 1913 Webster ]

Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond
Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which seals or fastens; esp., the wax or wafer placed on a letter or other closed paper, etc., to fasten it. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which confirms, ratifies, or makes stable; that which authenticates; that which secures; assurance. “Under the seal of silence.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like a red seal is the setting sun
On the good and the evil men have done. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. An arrangement for preventing the entrance or return of gas or air into a pipe, by which the open end of the pipe dips beneath the surface of water or other liquid, or a deep bend or sag in the pipe is filled with the liquid; a draintrap. [ 1913 Webster ]

Great seal. See under Great. --
Privy seal. See under Privy, a. --
Seal lock, a lock in which the keyhole is covered by a seal in such a way that the lock can not be opened without rupturing the seal. --
Seal manual. See under Manual, a. --
Seal ring, a ring having a seal engraved on it, or ornamented with a device resembling a seal; a signet ring. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sealed p. pr. & vb. n. Sealing. ] [ OE. selen; cf. OF. seeler, seieler, F. sceller, LL. sigillare. See Seal a stamp. ] 1. To set or affix a seal to; hence, to authenticate; to confirm; to ratify; to establish; as, to seal a deed. [ 1913 Webster ]

And with my hand I seal my true heart's love. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To mark with a stamp, as an evidence of standard exactness, legal size, or merchantable quality; as, to seal weights and measures; to seal silverware. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To fasten with a seal; to attach together with a wafer, wax, or other substance causing adhesion; as, to seal a letter. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Hence, to shut close; to keep close; to make fast; to keep secure or secret. [ 1913 Webster ]

Seal up your lips, and give no words but “mum”. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To fix, as a piece of iron in a wall, with cement, plaster, or the like. Gwilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To close by means of a seal; as, to seal a drainpipe with water. See 2d Seal, 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Among the Mormons, to confirm or set apart as a second or additional wife. [ Utah, U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If a man once married desires a second helpmate . . . she is sealed to him under the solemn sanction of the church. H. Stansbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To affix one's seal, or a seal. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I will seal unto this bond. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of a rich dark brown color, like the fur of the fur seal after it is dyed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A mariner or a vessel engaged in the business of capturing seals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who seals; especially, an officer whose duty it is to seal writs or instruments, to stamp weights and measures, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

A compound of the resinous materials, pigments, etc., used as a material for seals, as for letters, documents, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The skin of a seal; the pelt of a seal prepared for use, esp. of the fur seal; also, a garment made of this material. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]