adjective

snell

snehl

Snell (adjective) means Quick, sharp, or brisk — a mostly Scots and dialectal word. Example: “A snell wind cut across the moor.”

adjective

Quick, sharp, or brisk — a mostly Scots and dialectal word.

"A snell wind cut across the moor."

noun

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

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 notes

In 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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Can you complete this real example?

A _____ wind cut across the moor.

Etymology

From Old English snell ("lively, quick"), related to German schnell ("fast") and Dutch snel.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for snell

ell hell fell bell cell sell tell well dell pell kell Nell

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Frequently asked questions

What does “snell” mean?

The word “snell” means quick, sharp, or brisk — a mostly Scots and dialectal word. In plain terms, mostly 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.".

How do you pronounce “snell”?

“Snell” is pronounced snehl (/snɛl/ in IPA).

How do you use “snell” in a sentence?

Here is “snell” used in a sentence: “A snell wind cut across the moor.”

What part of speech is “snell”?

Depending on how it is used, “snell” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “snell” come from?

The word “snell” comes from Old English. From Old English snell ("lively, quick"), related to German schnell ("fast") and Dutch snel.

How many meanings does “snell” have?

“Snell” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: quick, sharp, or brisk — a mostly Scots and dialectal word.