steelyard Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a portable balance consisting of a pivoted bar with arms of unequal length
lever scale; beam scale.

So named from a place in London called the Steelyard, which was a yard in which steel was sold.

A form of balance in which the body to be weighed is suspended from the shorter arm of a lever, which turns on a fulcrum, and a counterpoise is caused to slide upon the longer arm to produce equilibrium, its place upon this arm (which is notched or graduated) indicating the weight; a Roman balance; -- very commonly used also in the plural form, steelyards.