metal, mettle (differentiated spellings of the same word, used without distinction in the old edd., but in mod. edd. “mettle” is usu. restricted to 4, 5, and 6)
1.
material of
which arms are made, hence=sword
John V. ii. 16
“That I must draw this
from my side”
; cf. All'sW. II. i. 42.
2.
precious metal, gold
(S.) Err. IV. i. 83, Mer.V. I. iii. 135,
R3 IV. iv. 383
“The imperial , circling
now thy head”
; fig.
Tw.N. II. v. 17
“my of India”
(Ff2 3 4
“Nettle”).
3.
fig. ‘stuff’, substance, material
AYL. II. vii. 82
“the of my
speech,”
All'sW. I. i. 143,
H5 III. i. 27
“The of your
pasture”
; with ref. to a person's ‘make-up’ or character Meas. I. i. 48,
R3 IV. iv. 303
“of your , of your very
blood,”
H8 III. ii. 240,
Lr. I. i. 71
“I am made of that self
as
my sister.”
4.
disposition,
temperament Tp. II. i. 189 [182] “of brave ,”
Tw.N. III. iv. 303
“I care not who knows so
much of my ,”
V. i. 334
“the of your
sex,”
John II. i. 401
“the of a
king,”
Cæs. I. ii. 301
“He was quick
mettle”
(conj. “mettl'd”†).
5.
(of a horse) natural
vigour and ardour, spirit
1H4 IV. iii. 22
“Your uncle Worcester's
horse . . . their pride and mettle is
asleep,”
Compl. 107.
6.
ardent temperament,
spirit, courage Ado V. i.
136,
1H4 II. iv. 13
“a lad of ,”
Cæs. II. i. 134
“th' insuppressive of our
spirits,”
Oth. IV. ii. 207
“there's mettle in
thee.”