seel

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

seel, v. t. [F. siller, ciller, fr. cil an eyelash, L. cilium.].

•  To close the eyes of (a hawk or other bird) by drawing through the lids threads which were fastened over the head.  Bacon.  [1913 Webster]

  "Fools climb to fall: fond hopes, like seeled doves for want of better light, mount till they end their flight with falling."  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence, to shut or close, as the eyes; to blind.  [1913 Webster]

  "Come, seeling night,
  Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day."  [1913 Webster]

  "Cold death, with a violent fate, his sable eyes did seel."  [1913 Webster]

seel, v. i. [Cf. LG. sielen to lead off water, F. siller to run ahead, to make headway, E. sile, v.t.].

 To incline to one side; to lean; to roll, as a ship at sea.  Sir W. Raleigh.  [1913 Webster]

seel, n. 

 The rolling or agitation of a ship in a storm.  Sandys.  [1913 Webster]

seel, n. [AS. s\'d6l, from s\'d6l good, prosperous. See Silly.].

•  Good fortune; favorable opportunity; prosperity. [Obs.] “So have I seel”.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]
•  Time; season; as, hay seel.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

seel, v.tr. archaic close (a person's eyes).

Etymology

obs. sile f. F ciller, siller, or med.L ciliare f. L cilium eyelid