▪ I. mettle, n. (and a.)
(ˈmɛt(ə)l)
Also 6–7 mettal(l, 6–9 metal.
[Originally the same word as metal n., of which mettle was a variant spelling used indiscriminately in all senses. The senses explained below are in origin figurative uses of metal n. and developments of these, but they are so remote from the literal sense that the consciousness of the identity of the word has long been lost. The graphical differentiation is recognized in Kersey's Phillips, 1706, and in all succeeding Dicts., but was not always observed by writers of the 18th and early 19th c.]
1. Quality of disposition or temperament. (See metal n. 1 f.)
| 1584 Lyly Campaspe iv. i. 41 Swearing commeth of a hot mettal. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. iii. iv. 300, I am one, that had rather go with sir Priest, then sir knight: I care not who knowes so much of my mettle. 1642 Rogers Naaman 19 To try the spirit of men, of what mettle they are made of. 1789 Wolcot (P. Pindar) Subj. for Painters Wks. 1792 III. 104 Showing the mettle of an arrant Quean. 1828 Scott F. M. Perth iii, Thou ken'st not the mettle that women are made of. 1897 Gen. H. Porter in Cent. Mag. June 206 It showed the mettle of which he was made. |
2. Of a horse, and
occas. of other animals: Natural vigour and ardour; spirit.
| 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iv. iii. 22 Your Vnckle Worcesters Horse came but to day, And now their pride and mettall is asleepe. 1662 J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 323 The taking away of the excess of Metal, which Stone-Horses are guilty of. 1655 Walton Angler i. (1661) 8 Her [a falcon's] mettle makes her careless of danger. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 209 As for the Females,..Take down their Mettle, keep 'em lean and bare. 1709 Pope Ess. Crit. 87 The winged courser, like a generous horse, Shows most true mettle when you check his course. 1867 J. Martineau Ess. II. 394 They have..horses of best descent and mettle. |
3. Of persons: Ardent or spirited temperament; spirit, courage.
| 1581 G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. iii. (1586) 149 It dulleth their wittes, and represseth their natural vigour, in such sorte, that there is no mettall left in them. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 13 A Corinthian, a lad of mettle. a 1655 Vines Lord's Supp. (1677) 368 When Jacob had seen the sweet vision in Bethel..it put mettle into him. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Mettle, Vigour, Fire, Life, Sprightliness, Briskness; as the Mettle of Youth. 1718 Free-thinker No. 103. 346, I like the Lady's Wit and Mettle. 1866 G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. xxxiv. (1878) 575, I found this only brought out his mettle. |
| punningly. 1604 Dekker Honest Wh. i. i. Wks. 1873 II. 6 If the Duke had but so much mettle in him, as in a coblers awle. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World v. i. 312 What other worldly help than the golden metall of their Souldiers, had our English Kings against the French? |
4. Phrases.
† a. to give mettle to: to encourage.
b. to be on or upon one's mettle: to be incited to do one's best.
c. to put or set (a person) on or upon his mettle,
to put to (occas. up to) his mettle: to test his powers of endurance or resistance.
d. † to put (a person) off his mettle: to daunt his courage.
e. to try (a person's) mettle = c.
| a. 1689 Andros Tracts II. 191 Our Conscience was that which gave metal to our Patience. |
| b. 1756 Mitchell in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. IV. 374, I think it hardly possible he can escape, as everybody here are upon their mettle. 1887 Times 9 Apr. 5/5 They would have to contend against cavalry, who would be upon their mettle to show their superiority over the cyclists. |
| c. 1733 Portland Papers VI. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) 47 In such a manner as has put the gentlemen pretty much upon their mettle. 1800 Weems Washington i. (1877) 6 Even the common passions..will put him up to his mettle, and call forth his best and bravest doings. 1859 Lever Dav. Dunn xiii. 14 It puts us on our mettle, too, to see our old enemies the French taking the work with us. 1895 J. C. Snaith Mistr. D. Marvin xlii, His..sarcasm set me on my mettle. 1900 W. Baird Gen. Wauchope iii. 44 The soldiers were put to their mettle. |
| d. a 1745 Swift Direct. Serv. ¶2 Wks. 1751 XIV. 3 When you have done a Fault,..behave yourself as if you were the injured Person; this will immediately put your Master or Lady off their Mettle. |
| e. 1786 Har'st Rig ii. (1794) 5 Let nane tyne heart, nor hand refrain, But try their mettle. 1882 Froude in Longm. Mag. Dec. 210 Romsdal's Horn..will try the mettle of the Alpine Club when they have conquered Switzerland. |
5. attrib. passing into adj. Spirited, mettlesome, ‘game’. Now
arch. and
Sc.| 1592 Nobody & Someb. A 4 b, Arch. Is not this Lasse a pretty Neat browne Wench? Sicoph. She is my liege, and mettell I dare warrant. 1651 Fuller Abel Rediv. 487 Where mettle Colts or restie jades are to be broken. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xxxii, Thou wouldst be a mettle lass enow, an thou wert snog and snod a bit better. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xxiii, He is an honest and a mettle gentleman. Ibid. xxviii, As he went by upon a mettle horse. |
▪ II. mettle obs. form of
metal.