steelyard

American  

[steel-yahrd, stil-yerd] / ˈstilˌjɑrd, ˈstɪl jərd /

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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steelyard British  

/ ˈstiːlˌjɑːd /

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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Etymology

Origin of steelyard

First recorded in 1630–40; steel + yard ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

steelyard

One crane operator in a steelyard was James J. Braddock, world heavyweight champion from 1935 to 1937, when he lost the crown to Joe Louis.

From New York Times ● Jul. 1, 2014

It was the first substantial improvement in the art of weighing since the Romans developed the graduated steelyard.

From Time Magazine Archive

To tell the truth, it was a delicate job, for the steelyard was a clumsy instrument, though, like the sceptical guard’s language, the best we had. 

From Diversions in Sicily by Jones, Henry Festing

At every corner and in every side street, men sold it out of huge baskets, by the five, and ten, and twenty pounds, weighing it out with the ancient steelyard balance.

From Ave Roma Immortalis, Vol. 1 Studies from the Chronicles of Rome by Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion)

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

From Museum of Antiquity A Description of Ancient Life by Haines, T. L. (Thomas Louis)