I. ˈmed. ə l, -et ə l noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English metel metal, mettle — more at metal
1. archaic : metal
2. : quality of temperament or disposition : spirit , spiritedness , temper
a girl of mettle — Norman MacCaig
but that poetry might be of finer mettle than prose he never apparently dreamed — S.T.Williams
3. : qualities (as ardor, courage, and stamina) and abilities in relation to a given situation
those who try their mettle against the sea — Walter Hayward
trucks had proved their mettle in army transport — Pioneer & Pacemaker
spoke in Spanish later on, but at first tried my mettle by using only Yaqui — E.H.Spicer
Synonyms: see courage
•
- on one's mettle
II. adjective
archaic Scotland : spirited , mettlesome
an honest and a mettle gentleman — R.L.Stevenson