Main Entry:

steel·yard

Pronunciation:

\ˈstēl-ˌyärd, ˈstil-yərd\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

probably from ³steel + ⁴yard (rod)

Date:

1639

: a balance in which an object to be weighed is suspended from the shorter arm of a lever and the weight determined by moving a counterpoise along a graduated scale on the longer arm until equilibrium is attained

[steelyard illustration]