steel (n.)

modified form of iron produced with a small portion of carbon, not found in nature but known in ancient times, Middle English stele, from Old English style "steel," from noun use of Proto-Germanic adjective *stakhlijan "made of steel" (source also of Old Saxon stehli, Old Norse, Middle Low German stal, Danish staal, Swedish stål, Middle Dutch stael, Dutch staal, Old High German stahal, German Stahl).

This is said to be related to *stakhla "standing fast," from PIE *stek-lo-, from root *stak- "to stand, place, be firm" (see stay (n.1)). The notion is perhaps "that which stands firm." No corresponding word exists outside Germanic languages except those likely borrowed from them.

Figurative of hardness at least from c. 1200. As an adjective from c. 1200 (Old English used stylen (Middle English steelen). Steel wool "fine, matted strands of steel for scouring, etc." is attested from 1896. Steel drum as a West Indies percussion instrument is from 1952. A steel trap, one with springs and teeth of steel, is attested by 1735; as figurative of a quick, sure mind, by 1910.

"make hard or strong like steel," 1580s, earliest use is figurative, from steel (n.). Old English and Middle English lacked the verb but had styled, steled "made of steel." Related: Steeled; steeling.