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Webster 1913 Edition

Seal

Seal

(sēl)
,
Noun.
[OE.
sele
, AS.
seolh
; akin to OHG.
selah
, Dan.
sael
, Sw.
själ
, Icel.
selr
.]
(Zool.)
Any aquatic carnivorous mammal of the families
Phocidae
and
Otariidae
.
☞ Seals inhabit seacoasts, and are found principally in the higher latitudes of both hemispheres. There are numerous species, bearing such popular names as
sea lion
,
sea leopard
,
sea bear
, or
ursine seal
,
fur seal
, and
sea elephant
. The bearded seal (
Erignathus barbatus
), the hooded seal (
Cystophora cristata
), and the ringed seal (
Phoca foetida
), are northern species. See also
Eared seal
,
Harp seal
,
Monk seal
, and
Fur seal
, under
Eared
,
Harp
,
Monk
, and
Fur
. Seals are much hunted for their skins and fur, and also for their oil, which in some species is very abundant.
Harbor seal
(Zool.)
,
the common seal (
Phoca vitulina
). It inhabits both the North Atlantic and the North Pacific Ocean, and often ascends rivers; – called also
marbled seal
,
native seal
,
river seal
,
bay seal
,
land seal
,
sea calf
,
sea cat
,
sea dog
,
dotard
,
ranger
,
selchie
,
tangfish
.

Seal

,
Noun.
[OE.
seel
, OF.
seel
, F.
sceau
, fr. L.
sigillum
a little figure or image, a seal, dim. of
signum
a mark, sign, figure, or image. See
Sign
,
Noun.
, and cf.
Sigil
.]
1.
An engraved or inscribed stamp, used for marking an impression in wax or other soft substance, to be attached to a document, or otherwise used by way of authentication or security.
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.
Shakespeare
3.
That which seals or fastens; esp., the wax or wafer placed on a letter or other closed paper, etc., to fasten it.
4.
That which confirms, ratifies, or makes stable; that which authenticates; that which secures; assurance.
“Under the seal of silence.”
Milton.
Like a red
seal
is the setting sun
On the good and the evil men have done.
Longfellow.
5.
An arrangement for preventing the entrance or return of gas or air into a pipe, by which the open end of the pipe dips beneath the surface of water or other liquid, or a deep bend or sag in the pipe is filled with the liquid; a draintrap.
Great seal
.
See under
Great
.
–
Privy seal
.
See under
Privy
,
Adj.
–
Seal lock
,
a lock in which the keyhole is covered by a seal in such a way that the lock can not be opened without rupturing the seal.
–
Seal manual
.
See under
Manual
,
Adj.
–
Seal ring
,
a ring having a seal engraved on it, or ornamented with a device resembling a seal; a signet ring.
Shak.

Seal

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Sealed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Sealing
.]
[OE.
selen
; cf. OF.
seeler
,
seieler
, F.
sceller
, LL.
sigillare
. See
Seal
a stamp.]
1.
To set or affix a seal to; hence, to authenticate; to confirm; to ratify; to establish;
as, to
seal
a deed
.
And with my hand I
seal
my true heart's love.
Shakespeare
2.
To mark with a stamp, as an evidence of standard exactness, legal size, or merchantable quality;
as, to
seal
weights and measures; to
seal
silverware
.
3.
To fasten with a seal; to attach together with a wafer, wax, or other substance causing adhesion;
as, to
seal
a letter
.
4.
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”.
Shakespeare
5.
To fix, as a piece of iron in a wall, with cement, plaster, or the like.
Gwilt.
6.
To close by means of a seal;
as, to
seal
a drainpipe with water
. See 2d
Seal
, 5.
7.
Among the Mormons, to confirm or set apart as a second or additional wife.
[Utah, U.S.]
If a man once married desires a second helpmate . . . she is
sealed
to him under the solemn sanction of the church.
H. Stansbury.

Seal

,
Verb.
I.
To affix one's seal, or a seal.
[Obs.]
I will
seal
unto this bond.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition

Seal

SEAL

,
Noun.
The common name for the species of the genus Phoca. These animals are ampibious, most of the inhabiting the sea coasts, particularly in the higher latitudes. They have six cutting teeth in the upper jaw, and four in the lower. Their hind feet are placed at the extremity of the body, in the same diretion with it, and serve the purpose of a caudal fin; the fore feet are also adapted for swimming, and furmished each with five claws; the external ears are either very small or wanting. There are numerous species; as the leonina, sometimes 18 feet in length, and the jubata, sometimes 25 feet in length, with a name like a lion, both called sea-lion, and found in the southern seas, and alo in the N. Pacific; the ursina, or sea bear, 8 or 9 feet in length, and covered with long, thick bristly hair, found in the N. Pacifac; and the common seal frome 4 to 6 feet in length, found generally throughout the Atlantic and the seas and bays communicating with it, covered with short, stiff, glossy hair, with a smooth head without external ears, and with the fore legs deeply immersed in the skin. Seals are much sought after for their skins and fur.

SEAL

,
Noun.
[L. sigillum.]
1. A piece of metal or other hard substance, usually round or oval, on which is ingraved some image or device, and sometimes a legend or inscription. This is used by idividuals, corporate bodies and states, for making impressions on wax upon instuments of writing, as an evidence of their authenticity. The king of England has his seal and his privy seal. Seals are sometimes worn in rings.

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