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. --Shak.
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. --Lonfellow.
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}, 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.
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
crustata}), and the ringed seal ({Phoca f[oe]tida}),
are northern species. See also {Eared seal}, {Harp
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} (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}.
I will seal unto this bond. --Shak.
And with my hand I seal my true heart's love.
--Shak.
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''.
--Shak.
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.