adjective
snell
snehl
adjective
1
Quick, sharp, or brisk — a mostly Scots and dialectal word.
"A snell wind cut across the moor."
noun
1
In fishing, a short line of gut or monofilament connecting a hook to the main fishing line.
"He tied a fresh snell before casting again."
verb
1
To attach a fishhook to a line using a snell knot.
"She snelled the hook carefully before heading out on the boat."
How to Use Snell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMostly known today as fishing tackle terminology — the short line tying a hook to a fishing line — though it also survives as a Scots dialect word for "sharp" or "brisk."
Common pairings
snell a hook
a snell knot
a snell wind
Word Forms
sneller comparative, snelled past tense, snells plural, snells singular, snellest superlative
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A _____ wind cut across the moor.
Etymology
From Old English snell ("lively, quick"), related to German schnell ("fast") and Dutch snel.