fell
1[ fel ]
/ fɛl /
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verb
simple past tense of fall.
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Other definitions for fell (2 of 5)
fell2
[ fel ]
/ fɛl /
verb (used with object)
to knock, strike, shoot, or cut down; cause to fall: to fell a moose;to fell a tree.
Sewing. to finish (a seam) by sewing the edge down flat.
noun
Lumbering. the amount of timber cut down in one season.
Sewing. a seam finished by felling.
Origin of fell
2First recorded before 900; Middle English fellen, fillen, fullen, Old English fellan, fyllan “to cut, cut down, destroy, shed (tears),” causative of feallan “to fall, fall down”; cognate with Gothic falljan, Old Frisian falla, fella, Old High German fellen, German fällen “to make fall”; see origin at fall
Other definitions for fell (3 of 5)
fell3
[ fel ]
/ fɛl /
adjective
Origin of fell
3First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English fel “treacherous, deceitful, false,” from Old French, nominative of felon “wicked”; see origin at felon1
OTHER WORDS FROM fell
fell·ness, nounOther definitions for fell (4 of 5)
Origin of fell
4First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English fel(l); cognate with Dutch vel, German Fell, Old Norse -fjall (as in berfjall “bearskin”), Gothic -fill (in thrutsfill “leprosy,” literally “scab skin”); akin to Latin pellis “skin, hide,” Greek péltē “small, light, leather-covered shield”
Other definitions for fell (5 of 5)
fell5
[ fel ]
/ fɛl /
noun Scot. and North England.
an upland pasture, moor, or thicket; a highland plateau.
Origin of fell
5First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fel “hill, mountain; upland or pasture; a moor or down”; from Old Norse fjall, -fell, “hill, mountain,” akin to German Fels “rock, cliff”
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use fell in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for fell (1 of 5)
fell1
/ (fɛl) /
verb (tr)
to cut or knock downto fell a tree; to fell an opponent
needlework to fold under and sew flat (the edges of a seam)
noun
US and Canadian the timber felled in one season
a seam finished by felling
Derived forms of fell
fellable, adjectiveWord Origin for fell
Old English fellan; related to Old Norse fella, Old High German fellen; see fall
British Dictionary definitions for fell (2 of 5)
fell2
/ (fɛl) /
adjective
archaic cruel or fierce; terrible
archaic destructive or deadlya fell disease
one fell swoop a single hasty action or occurrence
Derived forms of fell
fellness, nounWord Origin for fell
C13 fel, from Old French: cruel, from Medieval Latin fellō villain; see felon 1
British Dictionary definitions for fell (3 of 5)
British Dictionary definitions for fell (4 of 5)
fell4
/ (fɛl) /
noun
an animal skin or hide
Word Origin for fell
Old English; related to Old High German fel skin, Old Norse berfjall bearskin, Latin pellis skin; see peel 1
British Dictionary definitions for fell (5 of 5)
fell5
/ (fɛl) /
noun
(often plural) Northern English and Scot
- a mountain, hill, or tract of upland moor
- (in combination)fell-walking
Word Origin for fell
C13: from Old Norse fjall; related to Old High German felis rock
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Other Idioms and Phrases with fell
fell
see one fell swoop.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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