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Mettle
Definitions
- 1 Spirited, vigorous, stout-hearted. Scotland
"And then one afternoon in the hinder end of April came young Heriotside riding to the Skerburnfoot. His arm was healed, he had got him a fine new suit of green, and his horse was a mettle beast that well set off his figure."
- 1 A quality of courage and endurance. uncountable, usually
"By this Day and this Light, the fellow ha's mettell enough in his belly."
- 2 the courage to carry on wordnet
- 3 Good temperament and character. uncountable, usually
"Your Maſter quits you: and for your ſeruice done him, / So much againſt the mettle of your ſex"
- 4 Obsolete spelling of metal (“metallic substance”). alt-of, obsolete, uncountable, usually
"They have neither gold nor silver of their owne, wine nor oyle, or scarce any corne growing in those united Provinces, little or no Wood, Tinne, Lead, Iron, Silke, Wooll, any stuffe almost, or Mettle; and yet Hungary, Transilvania, that bragge of their mines, fertile England cannot compare with them."
Etymology
From figurative use of metal (since 16th century). The two spellings were originally interchangeable variants, but came to be distinguished by sense in the 18th century.
From figurative use of metal (since 16th century). The two spellings were originally interchangeable variants, but came to be distinguished by sense in the 18th century.
See also for "mettle"
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