snell

[snel]

noun

a short piece of nylon, gut, or the like, by which a fishhook is attached to a line.

Origin of snell

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; origin uncertain

snell

[snel]

adjective Chiefly Scot.

active; lively: a snell lad.
witty: a snell remark.
severe: snell weather.

Origin of snell

before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old High German snel (German schnell) quick, Old Norse snjallr excellent

Snell

[snel]

noun

Peter (George),born 1938, New Zealand distance runner.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for snell

Contemporary Examples of snell

That said, my big avoid in Durban is the Sun Coast Casino complex (at the end of Snell Parade).
Gal With a Suitcase
Jolie Hunt
July 10, 2010

Historical Examples of snell

She was afraid Mr. Snell —but it isn't worth talking about, now.
It Happened in Egypt
C. N. Williamson
With a gasp, Snell plunged through the crowd and took to his heels.
Frank Merriwell's Cruise
Burt L. Standish
"Furnish me with a boy to pass Merriwell the water and I'll do it," said Snell.
Frank Merriwell's Cruise
Burt L. Standish
Snell, on finding Frank and his friends were in Boston, had played the spy on the party.
Frank Merriwell's Cruise
Burt L. Standish
Then he hunted up Snell, and it was not hard to induce Wat to accompany him.
Frank Merriwell's Cruise
Burt L. Standish

British Dictionary definitions for snell

snell

adjective

Scot biting; bitter; sharp

Word Origin for snell

Old English snel quick, active

Snell

noun

Sir Peter (George). born 1938, New Zealand athlete; winner of three Olympic gold medals: for the 800 metres in 1960, and again in 1964, when he also won gold for the 1500 metres

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

Word Origin and History for snell

adj.

Old English snel "quick, active," cognate with Old Saxon, Dutch, Old High German snel, German schnell "swift, quick," Old Danish snel "swift, fleet," Old Norse snjallr "eloquent, able, bold." It survived as a surname and in Scottish and northern English; used by Burns and Scott. Italian snello is from Germanic.

snell in Medicine

Snell

[snĕl]George 1903-1996

American geneticist. He shared a 1980 Nobel Prize for discoveries concerning cell structure that enhanced understanding of the immunological system, resulting in higher success rates in organ transplantation.