Definition of "mettle" []

• Courage and fortitude; spirit: troops who showed their mettle in combat. (noun)
• Inherent quality of character and temperament. (noun)
• On (one's) mettle Prepared to accept a challenge and do one's best. (idiom)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "I. i.96 (151,8) Of unimproved mettle hot and full] _Full of unimproved mettle_, is full of spirit not regulated or guided by knowledge or experience."
• "However, a much greater test of their title mettle awaits Stephen Kearney's men when they face favourites Australia in Melbourne next Saturday, while PNG must now pick themselves up for their clash with England in Auckland on the same day."
• "Arsene Wenger's delight as Arsenal show their title mettle in hard-fought Goodison Park win"