seel: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare / ArchaicArchaic; Historical; Literary / Poetic
Quick answer
What does “seel” mean?
To close the eyes of (a bird, especially a hawk) by sewing the eyelids together, a practice in falconry.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To close the eyes of (a bird, especially a hawk) by sewing the eyelids together, a practice in falconry.
To blind; to close (someone's eyes). Figuratively, to bring to a state of darkness, ignorance, or unconsciousness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant modern difference in usage, as the term is archaic. It may be marginally more familiar to British audiences due to the historical prevalence of falconry in British culture and literature.
Connotations
Connotes a specific, historical practice. In figurative use, it implies a deliberate, often cruel, act of blinding or deceiving.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties. Its occurrence is limited to historical texts, poetry, or very deliberate archaisms.
Grammar
How to Use “seel” in a Sentence
[Subject] seels [Object (hawk/bird/person)][Subject] seels [Object]'s eyesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seel” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The falconer would seel the young hawk's eyes to calm it during training.
- In the poem, despair seels the mind's eye to all hope.
American English
- Historical texts describe how to seel a falcon properly.
- The tyrant's propaganda sought to seel the populace to the truth.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form in use.
American English
- No standard adverbial form in use.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjectival form in use.
American English
- No standard adjectival form in use.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or literary studies discussing falconry or archaic language.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Specific to historical falconry terminology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seel”
- Spelling it as 'seal' (the animal).
- Using it in a modern, non-figurative context.
- Incorrect conjugation (it is a regular verb: seel, seeled, seeling).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the practice of physically sewing a bird's eyelids shut is considered outdated and inhumane by modern falconry standards. The term is now purely historical.
'Blind' is a general term for causing loss of sight. 'Seel' is specifically the act of closing the eyes by sewing the eyelids, originally for hawks. Figuratively, 'seel' can mean to blind, but with a connotation of deliberate, manipulative closure.
No, they are homophones (sound the same) but have completely different etymologies. 'Seel' comes from Old French 'sillier' (to close the eyes), while 'seal' (animal) comes from Old English 'seolh'.
Yes. In Shakespeare's 'Othello' (Act III, Scene III), Iago says: "...she that so young could give out such a seeming, To seel her father's eyes up close as oak..." Here, it is used figuratively to mean 'deceive' or 'blind'.
To close the eyes of (a bird, especially a hawk) by sewing the eyelids together, a practice in falconry.
Seel is usually archaic; historical; literary / poetic in register.
Seel: in British English it is pronounced /siːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /sil/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “seel someone's eyes (to) (poetic/archaic)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SEAL with its eyes sewn shut – but it's a 'seel,' a practice for a hawk. Think: 'SEE-L' becomes 'SEE-Less' when its eyes are seeled.
Conceptual Metaphor
BLINDING IS SEWING SHUT; IGNORANCE/DECEPTION IS PHYSICAL BLINDING.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'seel' be MOST appropriately used?