STEEL, noun [G.] 1. Iron combined with a small portion of carbon; iron refined and hardened, used in making instruments, and particularly useful as the material of edged tools. It is called in chemistry, carburet of iron; but this is more usually the denomination of plumbago. 2. Figuratively, weapons; particularly, offensive weapons, swords, spears and the like. Brave Macbeth with his brandishd steel -- While doubting thus he stood, receivd the steel bathd in this brothers blood. 3. Medicines composed of steel as steel fillings. After relaxing, steel strengthens the solids. 4. Extreme hardness; as heads or hearts of steel STEEL, adjective Made of steel; as a steel plate or buckle. STEEL, verb transitive 1. To overlay, point or edge with steel; as, to steel the point of a sword; to steel a razor; to steel an ax. 2. To make hard or extremely hard. O God of battles, steel my soldiers hearts. Lies well steeld with weighty arguments. 3. To make hard; to make insensible or obdurate; as, to steel the heart against pity; to steel the mind or heart against reproof or admonition.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI