STEELYARD

steelyard, lever scale, beam scale

(noun) a portable balance consisting of a pivoted bar with arms of unequal length

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

steelyard (plural steelyards)

A transportable balance with unequal arm lengths.

A place where steel (and possibly other metals as well) is stored and sold.

Source: Wiktionary


Steel"yard, n. Etym: [So named from a place in London called the Steelyard, which was a yard in which steel was sold.]

Definition: A form of balance in which the body to be weighed is suspended from the shorter arm of a lever, which turns on a fulcrum, and a counterpoise is caused to slide upon the longer arm to produce equilibrium, its place upon this arm (which is notched or graduated) indicating the weight; a Roman balance; -- very commonly used also in the plural form, steelyards.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

7 May 2025

RUNNER

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Coffee Trivia

In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.

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