a. Obs. Forms: 1 stýlen, 2 stælen, 2–4 stelene, (3 -ane, stillen), 3–5 stelen, 4–5 -yn, (5 -in, -un, stilen), 7 steelen. [OE. stýlen (stǽlen, *stíelen) OFris. stêlen (WFris. stielen), MLG. stelen, MHG. stehelîn (mod.G. † stählen):—WGer. *stahalîn-, f. OTeut. *stahlo-: see STEEL sb.1 The MLG. stalen, MDu. staelen (mod.Du. stalen) are independently f. the sb.]
1. Made of steel; also, having a steel point.
a. 1175. in Napier, Holy Rood-tree, 26. Ða wearð hit swa heard swylce hit stælen wære.
15[?]. Lamb. Hom., 131. He to-þruste þa stelene gate and to brec þe irene barren of helle.
c. 1205. Lay., 7634. Was þe stelene brond swiðe brad & swiðe long.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3535. Was non so stif stelen wede þat with-stod his wepen.
c. 1475. Partenay, 256. With the stilen swerde there tho made entre.
1629. Quarles, Argalus & P., III. 122. With that the little angry god did bend His steelen Bow.
2. Hard as steel, steely.
a. 1000. Sal. & Sat., 504. Ne meahte ic of ðære heortan heardne aðrinʓan stylenne stan.
c. 1300. Cursor M., 4296. Strengh o luu … nan mai stere, Þof his hert al stillen were.
1659. Commw. Ballads (Percy Soc.), 138. From steelen heroes that rule us with rods … Libera nos, Domine.
