steel

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An artificial metal produced from iron, harder and more elastic than elemental iron; used figuratively as a symbol of hardness.

   Ocearium stæli.

2. 2
   noun

   Any item made of this metal, particularly including:

   For heom ne may halter ne bridel Bringe from here wode wyse, Ne mon mid stele ne mid ire.

3. 3
   noun

   Medicinal consumption of this metal; chalybeate medicine; (eventually) any iron or iron-treated water consumed as a medical treatment.

   A stronger physick is now necessary, perhaps a whole course of steel: A physick, God knowes, that this Kingdome hath been under five or six yeares.

4. 4
   noun

   The gray hue of this metal; steel-gray, or steel blue.

   Falkenhayn gave...to Jane a steel glacé silk dress.

5. 5
   adj

   Made of steel.

   Strained in stel ger on steedes of might.

6. 6
   adj

   Similar to steel in color, strength, or the like; steely.

   Wher neuer cessing soyle doth steelebright stuff send out from mines.

7. 7
   adj

   Of or belonging to the manufacture or trade in steel.

   [T]he discoverie of the yron and steele mines.

8. 8
   adj

   Containing steel.

   To mix some Sugar of steel, or steel wine with the first glass.

Etymology

From Middle English stele, stel, from Old English stīele, from Proto-West Germanic *stahlī (“something made of steel”), enlargement of *stahl (“steel”), from Proto-Germanic *stahlą, from *stah- or *stag- (“to be firm, rigid”), from Proto-Indo-European *stak- (“to stay, to be firm”). Compare Scots stele, Yola stehli, German Stahl, Dutch staal.