Forms: α. 7–8 stiliard, -yard, stilliard, (7 stilard), 8 still-yard. β. 7 steeleyard, 8– steelyard, steel-yard. [f. STEEL sb.1 + YARD sb.2; the formation was prob. suggested by the existence of STEELYARD1.
The following passage has been supposed to be an example of this word:
1531. in Lett. & Papers For. & Dom. Hen. VIII., V. 104/2. [The beam of] le Hanzes Hangis, [called] the Stilliarde Beme.
But prob. ‘Stilliarde Beme’ means the public weighing scales kept at the Steelyard. The relation to the older word STELLEER, which rests ultimately on the sole authority of Cotgrave, is obscure.]
A balance consisting of a lever with unequal arms, which moves on a fulcrum; the article to be weighed is suspended from the shorter arm, and a counterpoise is caused to slide upon the longer arm until equilibrium is produced, its place on this arm (which is notched or graduated) showing the weight: = Roman balance (ROMAN a.1 15 a). Also pl. and a pair of steelyards.
1639. Act in Arch. Maryland (1883), 1I. 79. No more shall be demanded for sealing of a pair of Steeleyards … then the fee … for sealing of a measure.
1650. B., Discolliminium, 16. It must be weighed … at the most just … beam the State hath,… not at every Souldiers petty Stilliards.
1682–90. Hooke, Posth. Wks. (1705), 565. If on a Stilyard a weight of thirty Pound be hung at thirty times the distance from the Center that a weight of nine hundred Pounds is hung, the Stilyard shall remain in æquilibrio.
a. 1790. Warton, Prol. Old Winch. Playhouse, 23. Hither your steelyards, Butchers, bring, to weigh The pound of flesh, Anthonio’s bond must pay!
1849. Longf., Kavanagh, xi. Pr. Wks. 1886, II. 322. He likewise weighed all the babies. There was hardly a child in town that had not hung beneath his steelyards.
1872. Yeats, Techn. Hist. Comm., 349. Railway luggage is weighed by means of a strong iron steelyard.
attrib. 1777. Birmingham Directory, 5. Beach, Thomas, Stilliard maker.
