WordGarden.ioseel
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈiːl/
US
- /ˈsil/
Meanings
Verb
to sew shut a hawk's or falcon's eyelids during training
Beyond the definition
To seel is not about seeing; it is about stopping sight. This old, rare word comes from falconry, where it meant stitching a hawk's eyelids closed or partly closed for a time so the bird would stay calm during training. In writing, it is often used in a figurative way to suggest blinding someone to the truth or shutting out what should be seen. The word carries a strong sense of deliberate darkness and blocked vision.
Imagine a medieval falconer working with a wild, skittish bird of prey. To tame its fierce spirit and prevent it from being startled by the sights of the human world, the handler would "seel" its eyes. By passing a fine silk thread through the lower eyelids and tying them, the bird was kept in temporary darkness during part of its training. In that historical setting, the method was used to make the hawk depend more on the handler's touch and voice before being allowed to see fully again.
The word "seel" entered English from Old French, related to words for the eyelid or for closing the eyes. While the physical practice has largely faded, the word remains a powerful tool in English literature. Shakespeare famously used it in Macbeth: "Come, seeling night, scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day." In that line, night is imagined as something that closes the world's eyes and hides what is about to happen.
In a modern context, you are most likely to meet "seel" in historical fiction, poetry, or classic drama. It gives a much stronger image than simply "close" or "blind." It suggests sight being shut off by force or design, and for that reason it often points to secrecy, concealment, or a refusal to face the truth. When you understand "seel," those old literary images become much clearer: the word is about closing off light, vision, and sometimes understanding itself.
Examples
- 1
Falconry
In old falconry, trainers would seel a hawk to keep it calm.
- Domainin falconry, seel
sew a bird’s eyelids partly shut
- 2
Modern reaction
The practice of seeling birds now sounds harsh to most modern readers.
- 3
Literary use
In older literature, seel can also mean to blind or close the eyes, as in the phrase "seeling night."
- Phrase"seeling night"
a literary phrase meaning night that darkens or blinds
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- seelverb