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• snell
  snell

  noun

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

  noun

  Peter (George), 1938–2019, New Zealand distance runner.

snell

¹ American  

[snel] / snɛl /

noun

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

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snell ² American  

[snel] / snɛl /

adjective

Chiefly Scot.

1. active; lively.

   a snell lad.

2. witty.

   a snell remark.

3. severe.

   snell weather.

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Snell ³ American  

[snel] / snɛl /

noun

1. Peter (George), 1938–2019, New Zealand distance runner.

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Snell ¹ British  

/ snɛl /

noun

1. 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

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snell ² British  

/ snɛl /

adjective

1. biting; bitter; sharp

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Etymology

Origin of snell¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; origin uncertain

Origin of snell²

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

snell Snell

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

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

Simply snell a 7/0 circle hook to 18 inches of 50-pound fluorocarbon leader tied to a two- to four-ounce trolling sinker.

From Time Magazine Archive

"There came a wind out of the north, "A sharp wind and a snell; "And a dead sleep came over me, "And frae my horse I fell.

From Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, Volume 2 Consisting of Historical and Romantic Ballads, Collected in The Southern Counties of Scotland; with a Few of Modern Date, Founded Upon Local Tradition by Sir Walter Scott

Ohtani and Betts are under contract through their age-39 seasons; Smith will be 38 when his deal’s up, Yamamoto and Max Muncy 37, Snell 36, Glasnow 35.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

That’s when Bauers went to work against Snell.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

It’s the first time the left-handed Snell has pitched beyond the sixth inning this season, with the right-handed Andrew Vaughn leading off and the left-handed Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell to follow.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

Then Snell left a 98 mph heater in the middle of the zone—and Bauers pounced, sending the ball 412 feet deep into the right-field seats, silencing the raucous Dodger Stadium crowd.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

“I still can’t drink this,” Mrs. Snell said.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

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