What is "to settle the land"

Settle \Set"tle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Settled; p. pr. & vb. n. Settling.] [OE. setlen, AS. setlan. [root]154. See Settle, n. In senses 7, 8, and 9 perhaps confused with OE. sahtlen to reconcile, AS. sahtlian, fr. saht reconciliation, sacon to contend, dispute. Cf. Sake.]

1. To place in a fixed or permanent condition; to make firm, steady, or stable; to establish; to fix; esp., to establish in life; to fix in business, in a home, or the like.

   And he settled his countenance steadfastly upon him, until he was ashamed.
   --2 Kings viii. 11. (Rev. Ver.)

   The father thought the time drew on Of setting in the world his only son.
   --Dryden.

2. To establish in the pastoral office; to ordain or install as pastor or rector of a church, society, or parish; as, to settle a minister. [U. S.]

3. To cause to be no longer in a disturbed condition; to render quiet; to still; to calm; to compose.

   God settled then the huge whale-bearing lake.
   --Chapman.

   Hoping that sleep might settle his brains.
   --Bunyan.

4. To clear of dregs and impurities by causing them to sink; to render pure or clear; -- said of a liquid; as, to settle coffee, or the grounds of coffee.

5. To restore or bring to a smooth, dry, or passable condition; -- said of the ground, of roads, and the like; as, clear weather settles the roads.

6. To cause to sink; to lower; to depress; hence, also, to render close or compact; as, to settle the contents of a barrel or bag by shaking it.

7. To determine, as something which is exposed to doubt or question; to free from unscertainty or wavering; to make sure, firm, or constant; to establish; to compose; to quiet; as, to settle the mind when agitated; to settle questions of law; to settle the succession to a throne; to settle an allowance.

   It will settle the wavering, and confirm the doubtful.
   --Swift.

8. To adjust, as something in discussion; to make up; to compose; to pacify; as, to settle a quarrel.

9. To adjust, as accounts; to liquidate; to balance; as, to settle an account.

10. Hence, to pay; as, to settle a bill. [Colloq.]
    --Abbott.

11. To plant with inhabitants; to colonize; to people; as, the French first settled Canada; the Puritans settled New England; Plymouth was settled in 1620. To settle on or To settle upon,

    1. to confer upon by permanent grant; to assure to. ``I . . . have settled upon him a good annuity.''
       --Addison.

    2. to choose; to decide on; -- sometimes with the implication that the choice is not ideal, but the best available.

       To settle the land (Naut.), to cause it to sink, or appear lower, by receding from it.

       Syn: To fix; establish; regulate; arrange; compose; adjust; determine; decide.