| mettle | Substance or quality of temperament; spirit, especially. As regards honor, courage, fortitude, ardor, etc.; disposition; usually in a good sense. "A certain critical hour which shall.. Try what mettle his heart is made of." (South) "Gentlemen of brave mettle." (Shak) "The winged courser, like a generous horse, Shows most true mettle when you check his course." (Pope) To put one one's mettle, to cause or incite one to use one's best efforts. Origin: E. Metal, used in a tropical sense in allusion to the temper of the metal of a sword blade. See Metal. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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