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seal

Seal Seal (s[=e]l), n. [OE. sele, AS. seolh; akin to OHG. selah, Dan. s[ae]l, Sw. sj["a]l, Icel. selr.] (Zo["o]l.) Any aquatic carnivorous mammal of the families Phocid[ae] and Otariid[ae]. [1913 Webster]

Note: 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 f[oe]tida}), 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. [1913 Webster]

{Harbor seal} (Zo["o]l.), 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. [1913 Webster]

Seal Seal, n. [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, n., 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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond Thou but offend st thy lungs to speak so loud. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. That which seals or fastens; esp., the wax or wafer placed on a letter or other closed paper, etc., to fasten it. [1913 Webster]

4. That which confirms, ratifies, or makes stable; that which authenticates; that which secures; assurance. ``Under the seal of silence. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Like a red seal is the setting sun On the good and the evil men have done. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

{Great seal}. See under Great.

{Privy seal}. See under Privy, a.

{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, a.

{Seal ring}, a ring having a seal engraved on it, or ornamented with a device resembling a seal; a signet ring. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Seal Seal, v. 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. [1913 Webster]

And with my hand I seal my true heart s love. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

3. To fasten with a seal; to attach together with a wafer, wax, or other substance causing adhesion; as, to seal a letter. [1913 Webster]

4. Hence, to shut close; to keep close; to make fast; to keep secure or secret. [1913 Webster]

Seal up your lips, and give no words but ``mum . --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. To fix, as a piece of iron in a wall, with cement, plaster, or the like. --Gwilt. [1913 Webster]

6. To close by means of a seal; as, to seal a drainpipe with water. See 2d Seal, 5. [1913 Webster]

7. Among the Mormons, to confirm or set apart as a second or additional wife. [Utah, U.S.] [1913 Webster]

If a man once married desires a second helpmate . . . she is sealed to him under the solemn sanction of the church. --H. Stansbury. [1913 Webster]

Seal Seal, v. i. To affix one s seal, or a seal. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

I will seal unto this bond. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

to spanish

seal [si?l] foca
foca.idoneos.com

to french

seal [si?l] phoque
phoque.idoneos.com
sceller
sceller.idoneos.com
sceau
sceau.idoneos.com

to deutch

seal [si?l] Dichtung, Robbe, Seehund, Siegel, Verschluss
dichtung.idoneos.com
robbe.idoneos.com
seehund.idoneos.com
siegel.idoneos.com
verschluss.idoneos.com

seal [ledsi?l]lead Plombe
plombe.idoneos.com

to italian

seal foca
foca.idoneos.com

to latin

seal [si?l] phoca
phoca.idoneos.com

Bible Dictionary

Seal
The importance attached to seals in the East is so great thatwithout one no document is regarded as authentic. Among themethods of sealing used in Egypt at a very early period wereengraved stones, graved stones, pierced through their lengthand hung by a string or chain from the arm or neck, or set inrings for the finger. The most ancient form used for thispurpose was the scarabaeus, formed of precious or common stone,or even of blue pottery or porcelain, on the flat side of whichthe inscription or device was engraved. In many cases the sealconsisted of a lump of clay, impressed with the seal andattached to the document, whether of papyrus or other material,by strings. In other cases wax was used. In sealing a sepulchreor box, the fastening was covered with clay or wax, and theimpression from a seal of one in authority was stamped upon it,so that it could not be broken open without discovery. Thesignet-ring was an ordinary part of a man s equipment. (genesis38:18) The ring or the seal as an emblem of authority in Egypt,Persia and elsewhere is mentioned in (genesis 41:42; 1 kings21:8; esther 3:10,12; 8:2; daniel 6:17) and as an evidence of acovenant, in (jeremiah 32:10,44; nehemiah 9:38; 10:1; haggai2:23) Engraved signets were in use among the Hebrews in earlytimes. (exodus 28:11,36; 39:6)