seal English · revision 6142

+ English has two main words spelled seal: the stamp that authenticates a document, from Latin, and the marine mammal, a native word.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /siːl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|stamp, fastening}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=la signum}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The stamp is Middle English seil, seel, [[bor|xno|seal]], [[bor|fro|seel]] (modern French sceau),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from Vulgar Latin [[m|la-vul|*sigellum]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[la|sigillum|t=small picture, engraved figure, seal]], a diminutive of [[m|la|signum|t=mark, token, sign]] (see [[sign]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) The Latin word was also borrowed into Gothic, [[de|Siegel]] and [[nl|zegel]], and an earlier borrowing into Old English is [[m|ang|insegel]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The verb is from the noun or from Old French [[m|fro|seeler]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Figuratively, something that joins two things: probably about 1200;^(Barnhart 1988) an official seal, an authenticating mark, from 1258.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Etymonline has the design stamped on wax from about 1200.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The engraved device used to make the impression, technically a matrix, is by about 1300.^(Etymonline) Further senses come from a seal marking and closing a document to keep it secret (about 1300),^(Etymonline) and an identifying mark, especially one confirming goods or measures as standard, is from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) The verb meant to fasten with a seal or to join together from about 1200,^(Etymonline) and to conclude or ratify from the late 15th century.^(Etymonline) To close a jar or container with wax, lead or cement is from the 1660s,^(Etymonline) and something that stops a gas or liquid from escaping from 1853.^(Etymonline) ''To seal one's lips'' is by 1782 and ''to seal one's fate'' from 1799.^(Etymonline) ''Put the seal on'' and ''set one's seal to'' come from the stamping of documents, and ''seal off'' from seals showing that something has not been opened.^(Cresswell 2021) [[sealing wax|alt=Sealing wax]] is attested from about 1300.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – something that joins; the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1258 – an official seal.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – sealing wax; a seal keeping secrecy.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 15th century – to ratify.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1660s – to close a container.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1853 – a seal against leaks.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A device or [[signet]] with a design that is stamped into wax or lead, or the impression or emblem itself, used to authenticate a document.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something that closes or fastens tightly, as against air or water.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A mark or sign of approval or guarantee: ''seal of approval''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fix a seal to, so as to authenticate.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To close firmly or [[hermetic|alt=hermetically]]; to make fast.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To settle or decide finally: ''to seal a deal''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sealant]]

+ * [[sealer]]

+ * [[sealing wax]]

+ * [[seal ring]]

+ * [[unseal]]

+ * [[privy seal]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|marine mammal}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 899|origins=gem-pro *selhaz}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The animal is Middle English sele, [[inh|ang|seolh]] (stem sēol-),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from [[gem-pro|*selhaz]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) which is also the source of [[gml|sēl]], [[dum|seel]], [[goh|selah]] and [[non|selr]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) Its further origin is unknown;^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) Etymonline suggests a borrowing from Finnic, and Barnhart and MWU a possible link with [[grc|ἕλκειν|tr=hélkein|t=to drag]] or Old English [[m|ang|sulh|t=furrow]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English sēol-, before 899, in Alfred's translation of Orosius;^(Barnhart 1988) the OED's first use is about 1000.^(OED 1989) In Middle English it is sele about 1300 in ''Havelok the Dane'', and the compound selesmer, perhaps pieces of blubber, is from 1293.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Anglo-Saxon kenning seolhbæð, “seal's bath”, meant the sea.^(Etymonline) Kinds of seal, such as eared, elephant, fur and harp seals, are named from 1781,^(OED 1989) and seal short for sealskin from 1886.^(OED 1989) The colour seal brown is attested by 1875, and seal point, the dark markings of a Siamese cat, from 1934.^(Etymonline) The verb, to hunt seals, is from the late 18th century.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 899 – Old English sēol-, in Alfred's Orosius.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1293 – selesmer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – sele, in ''Havelok''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1875 – seal brown.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1934 – seal point.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A sleek aquatic [[carnivore|alt=carnivorous]] mammal with flippers, of the families Phocidae and Otariidae.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The fur of the fur seal; [[sealskin]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To hunt seals.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sealer]]

+ * [[sealskin]]

+ * [[fur seal]]

+ * [[elephant seal]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sign]]

+ * [[signet]]

+ * [[sigil]]

+ * [[signature]]

+ * [[sallow]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A third seal, a willow or [[sallow]], is now dialect only, partly from Old Norse selja.^(SOED 2002) SEAL, a member of a US Navy special-operations unit, is an abbreviation of ''sea, air, land''.^(SOED 2002)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}