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steelyard

[steel-yahrd, stil-yerd]
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noun
  1. a portable balance with two unequal arms, the longer one having a movable counterpoise and the shorter one bearing a hook or the like for holding the object to be weighed.
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Origin of steelyard

First recorded in 1630–40; steel + yard1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for steelyard

Historical Examples

  • The young merchant is seated among his daily surroundings in the Steelyard.

    Holbein

    Beatrice Fortescue

  • The scales and steelyard which we have given are said to have been found at the same time.

  • Then Bridget Bolster was put into the box, and she was examined by Mr. Steelyard.

    Orley Farm

    Anthony Trollope

  • To this she adhered firmly, and Mr. Steelyard handed her over to Mr. Chaffanbrass.

    Orley Farm

    Anthony Trollope

  • There the capture was hung upon one of the hooks of the steelyard.

    Three Boys

    George Manville Fenn

British Dictionary definitions for steelyard

steelyard

noun
  1. a portable balance consisting of a pivoted bar with two unequal arms. The load is suspended from the shorter one and the bar is returned to the horizontal by adding weights to the longer one
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Word Origin

C17: from steel + yard 1 (in the archaic sense: a rod or pole)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012