reel

¹reel

noun \ˈrēl\

Definition of REEL

1

: a revolvable device on which something flexible is wound: as

a : a small windlass at the butt of a fishing rod for the line

b chiefly British : a spool or bobbin for sewing thread

c : a flanged spool for photographic film; especially : one for motion pictures

2

: a quantity of something wound on a reel

Origin of REEL

Middle English, from Old English hrēol; akin to Old Norse hræll weaver's reed, Greek krekein to weave

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

Rhymes with REEL

ceil, chiel, creel, deal, deil, eel, feel, heal, heel, keel, Kiel, kneel, leal, meal, peal, peel, real, seal, seel, shiel, speel, spiel, squeal, steal, steel, Steele, streel, teal, tuille, veal, weal, wheal, wheel, zeal

²reel

verb

Definition of REEL

transitive verb

1

: to wind on or as if on a reel

2

: to draw by reeling a line <reel a fish in>

intransitive verb

: to turn a reel

— reel·able \ˈrē-lə-bəl\ adjective

First Known Use of REEL

14th century

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

³reel

verb

Definition of REEL

intransitive verb

1

a : to turn or move round and round

b : to be in a whirl

2

: to behave in a violent disorderly manner

3

: to waver or fall back (as from a blow)

4

: to walk or move unsteadily

transitive verb

: to cause to reel

Origin of REEL

Middle English relen, probably from reel, noun

First Known Use: 14th century

⁴reel

noun

Definition of REEL

: a reeling motion

First Known Use of REEL

1572

⁵reel

noun

Definition of REEL

1

: a lively Scottish-Highland dance; also : the music for this dance

2

: virginia reel

Origin of REEL

probably from ⁴reel

First Known Use: circa 1585