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snell

1
[ snel ]
/ snɛl /
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noun
a short piece of nylon, gut, or the like, by which a fishhook is attached to a line.
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Origin of snell

1
An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; origin uncertain

Other definitions for snell (2 of 3)

snell2
[ snel ]
/ snɛl /

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

Origin of snell

2
before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old High German snel (German schnell) quick, Old Norse snjallr excellent

Other definitions for snell (3 of 3)

Snell
[ snel ]
/ snɛl /

noun
Peter (George), 1938–2019, New Zealand distance runner.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use snell in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for snell (1 of 2)

snell
/ (snɛl) /

adjective
Scot biting; bitter; sharp

Word Origin for snell

Old English snel quick, active

British Dictionary definitions for snell (2 of 2)

Snell
/ (snɛl) /

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
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