steel

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Cast steel (Metal.), a fine variety of steel, originally made by smelting blister or cementation steel; hence, ordinarily, steel of any process of production when remelted and cast.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 ]