snell

Meaning

Adj

1. Quick, smart; sharp, active, brisk or nimble; lively.
2. Quick-witted; clever.
3. Harsh, severe, or stinging.

Adv

Alternative form of snelly

Noun

A short line of horsehair, gut, monofilament, etc., by which a fishhook or lure is attached to a longer (and usually heavier) line.

Verb

To tie a hook to the end of a fishing line with a snell knot.

Synonyms

leader

Pronounced as (IPA)

/snɛl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: snell

Inherited from Old English: snel

Cognate with Old Saxon: snel

Cognate with Dutch: snel

Cognate with Old High German: snel

Cognate with Yiddish: שנעל

Cognate with Italian: snello

Cognate with Old French: esnel

Cognate with Occitan: isnel

Cognate with Old Norse: snjallr

Cognate with Danish: snild

In summary

Inherited from Middle English snell (“quick, fast”) from Old English snel, snell (“lively, quick”) from Proto-West Germanic *snell, from Proto-Germanic *snellaz (“active, swift, brisk”). Akin to Old Saxon snel, snell (“active, strenuous”), Dutch snel, Old High German snel (whence German schnell (“quick, swift”), Yiddish שנעל (shnel, “quick, swift”), Italian snello (“quick, nimble”), Old French esnel, isnel (“snell”), and Occitan isnel, irnel (“snell”)), Old Norse snjallr (“skilful, excellent”) (whence Danish snild (“clever”)).