active; lively.
a snell lad.
witty.
a snell remark.
severe.
snell weather.
An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; origin uncertain
before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old High German snel ( German schnell ) quick, Old Norse snjallr excellent
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Note: for the snell to be tied properly, the loop must pass around the hook bend and the tag end with each wrap.
From Time Magazine Archive
Snelled hooks are often used when fishing natural baits for species such as striped bass and flounder, and fly anglers have long used the snell knot to attach tarpon streamers to heavy leaders.
From Time Magazine Archive
One benefit of the snell knot is that it aligns the fishing line or leader with the hook shank, resulting in a straight, solid set.
From Time Magazine Archive
Thread the leader through the mantle and to the bottom of the squid, then snell a 9/0 to 10/0 Mustad Super Marlin 7761 BLN hook to the leader.
From Time Magazine Archive
She sniffed appreciatively as the hasps rattled, for even through the well-fitting windows the snell bite of the winter storm entered.
From Patsy by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)
Sporting a bright pink headband, 84-year-old Judith Snell, from Brighouse, declares herself "ready for a punch-up" after completing some shadow boxing with Mr Motivator.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Ace lefty Blake Snell, flamethrowing righty Tyler Glasnow and newly acquired closer Edwin Díaz have been injured for months.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Tucker, Betts, Snell, Glasnow and Díaz are making more this year than a dozen MLB teams are paying for their entire rosters, and their limited production has hardly mattered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Blake Snell — who also had loose bodies removed from his pitching elbow, undergoing a NanoNeedle Scope procedure on May 19 — threw two simulated innings to batters Saturday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
“Mildred,” Sandra, still laughing, addressed Mrs. Snell, “you’re gonna miss your bus if ya don’t get a move on.”
From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
