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steelyard

[ steel-yahrd, stil-yerd ]

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.


steelyard

/ 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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Word History and Origins

Origin of steelyard1

First recorded in 1630–40; steel + yard 1

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Word History and Origins

Origin of steelyard1

C17: from steel + yard 1(in the archaic sense: a rod or pole)

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Example Sentences

Hardly a minute elapsed before the Jew was back again, carrying his precious steelyard with ostentatious care.

The steelyard was committed to the keeping of Ben Zoof, and the visitors prepared to quit the Hansa.

And, moaning and groaning, the miserable man was driven to make up the full weight as registered by his own steelyard.

It has a conical valve pressed with a spiral spring, of any desired force, estimated by a steelyard.

Holbein, however, met with a warm reception from the German merchants of the Steelyard, and painted portraits of many of them.

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