appel

[ uh-pel, a-pel; French a-pel ]

/ əˈpɛl, æˈpɛl; French aˈpɛl /

noun, plural ap·pels [uh-pelz, a-pelz; French a-pel] /əˈpɛlz, æˈpɛlz; French aˈpɛl/. Fencing.

a tap or stamp of the foot, formerly serving as a warning of one's intent to attack, but now also used as a feint.

a sharp stroke with the blade used for the purpose of procuring an opening.

Nearby words

Origin of appel

From French; see origin at appeal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for appel

Mr. Appel snickered: "They'll help fertilize the soil, which I'm told needs it."
The Dude Wrangler|Caroline Lockhart
Then he kissed Mrs. Appel, who turned her cheek to him, and buttoned himself into the bag.
The Dude Wrangler|Caroline Lockhart
And say, Appel, you ain't seen nobody but only Quinlan and Geltfin—eh?
Sundry Accounts|Irvin S. Cobb
Mr. Appel volunteered to conduct Mr. Budlong to the spot as soon as they were finished eating.
The Dude Wrangler|Caroline Lockhart

Thus encouraged, Mr. Appel declared that he wished he would not fry the ham to chips and boil the "daylights" out of the coffee.
The Dude Wrangler|Caroline Lockhart

British Dictionary definitions for appel (1 of 2)

appel

/ (əˈpɛl, French apɛl) /

noun fencing

a stamp of the foot, used to warn of one's intent to attack

a sharp blow with the blade made to procure an opening

Word Origin for appel

from French: challenge

British Dictionary definitions for appel (2 of 2)

Appel

/ (Dutch ˈɑpəl) /

noun

Karel (ˈkaːrəl). 1921–2006, Dutch abstract expressionist painter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012