Seal | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Seal, n.

noun

(sēl), n. [A.-S. seol, siol, syl, seolh, Dan. säl, Sw. själ, Icel. selr, O. H. Ger. selach.] (Zoöl.) An aquatic carnivorous mammal of the family Phocidæ.

Seals inhabit sea-coasts, and are found principally in the higher latitudes of both hemispheres. There are numerous species, bearing the popular names of the sea-lion, the sea-bear or ursine seal, the sea-elephant, and the like. The bearded seal is Phoca barbata; the Greenland seal, P. Groenlandica; the rough seal, P. foetida. Seals are much sought after for their skins and fur, and also for their oil, which in some species is very abundant.

An engraved seal rests on a rocky shore. — Seal (*Calocephalus vitulinus*).

Seal, n.

noun

(sēl), n. [A-S. sigel, Goth. sigljō, O. H. Ger. sigil, insigili, N. H. Ger. siegel, L. Ger. segel, D. zegel, Dan. segl, seigl, indsegl, Sw. sigill, insegel, from Lat. sigillum, a little figure or image, a seal, diminutive of signum, a mark, sign, figure, or image.

Sense 1. An engraved or inscribed stamp, used for making an impression in wax or other soft substance, to be attached to a document, or otherwise used by way of authentication or security.

Sense 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.

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

Sense 3. Hence, the wax or wafer that makes fast a letter or other paper.

Sense 4. Hence, that which confirms, ratifies, or makes stable; assurance; that which authenticates; that which secures, makes reliable, or stable. “Under the seal of silence.” Milton.

Sēal, v. t.

verbtransitive

(sēl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. SEALED; p. pr. & vb. n. SEALING.] [A. S. sigelian, insegelian, O. Fries. sigelia, Goth. sigljan, gasigljan, O. H. Ger. sigiljan, insigiljan, bisigiljan, N. H. Ger. siegeln, L. Ger. segelen, D. segelen, Dan. besegle, forsegle, Sw. besegla, försegla. See supra.] 1. To set or affix a seal to; to confirm; to ratify; to establish; as, to seal a deed. And with my hand I seal our true hearts’ love. Shak.

To mark with a stamp, as an evidence of standard exactness, legal size, or merchantable quality; as, to seal weights and measures.
To fasten with a seal; to attach together with a wafer or with wax; as, to seal a letter.
Hence, to shut close; to keep close; to make fast; to keep secure, or secret.

Seal up your lips, and give no words but “mum.” Shak. 5. (Arch.) To fix, as a piece of wood or iron in a wall, with cement, plaster, or other binding for staples, hinges, or the like. Gwill.

Seal, v. i.

verbintransitive

(sēl), v. i. To affix a seal. [Obs.] I will seal unto this bond. Shak.