Great seal

Seal Seal, n. [OE. seel, OF. seel, F. sceau, fr. L. sigillum a little figure or image, a seal, dim. of signum a mark, sign, figure, or image. See {Sign}, n., and cf. {Sigil}.] 1. An engraved or inscribed stamp, used for marking an impression in wax or other soft substance, to be attached to a document, or otherwise used by way of authentication or security. [1913 Webster]

2. Wax, wafer, or other tenacious substance, set to an instrument, and impressed or stamped with a seal; as, to give a deed under hand and seal. [1913 Webster]

Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. That which seals or fastens; esp., the wax or wafer placed on a letter or other closed paper, etc., to fasten it. [1913 Webster]

4. That which confirms, ratifies, or makes stable; that which authenticates; that which secures; assurance. ``Under the seal of silence.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Like a red seal is the setting sun On the good and the evil men have done. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

5. An arrangement for preventing the entrance or return of gas or air into a pipe, by which the open end of the pipe dips beneath the surface of water or other liquid, or a deep bend or sag in the pipe is filled with the liquid; a draintrap. [1913 Webster]

{Great seal}. See under {Great}.

{Privy seal}. See under {Privy}, a.

{Seal lock}, a lock in which the keyhole is covered by a seal in such a way that the lock can not be opened without rupturing the seal.

{Seal manual}. See under {Manual}, a.

{Seal ring}, a ring having a seal engraved on it, or ornamented with a device resembling a seal; a signet ring. --Shak. [1913 Webster]