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.
Flies, leaders, and snell hooks, said he, are made in many a humble European home.
From Time Magazine Archive
With a little practice, you can learn to snell a hook quickly.
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
The snell knot was invented long ago when it was the only way to attach the fishing line to an eye-less hook, but many anglers still use it today.
From Time Magazine Archive
"That is the situation," he admitted, freeing his line and trying to catch the crinkled silvery snell of the new leader.
From The Younger Set by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)
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
And left-hander Blake Snell was scheduled to take the mound for two innings Saturday in his first minor-league rehab start since undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 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
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
“I was in a fraternity, sir,” Snell said.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
