Inherited fromMiddle Englishsnell(“quick, fast”) fromOld Englishsnel,snell(“lively, quick”) fromProto-West Germanic*snell, fromProto-Germanic*snellaz(“active, swift, brisk”).
Akin toOld Saxonsnel,snell(“active, strenuous”),Dutchsnel,Old High Germansnel (whence Germanschnell(“quick, swift”),Yiddishשנעל(shnel,“quick, swift”),Italiansnello(“quick, nimble”),Old Frenchesnel,isnel(“snell”), andOccitanisnel,irnel(“snell”)),Old Norsesnjallr(“skilful, excellent”) (whenceDanishsnild(“clever”)).
snell (comparativesneller,superlativesnellest)(now chiefly Scotland)
- Quick,smart;sharp,active,brisk ornimble;lively.
1720, Allan Ramsay,Edinburgh's Salutation to Lord Carnarvon:That in ilk action, wise andsnell / You may shaw Manly fire.
1852, John Brown,Rab and his Friends:That horny-handed,snell, peremptory little man.
1889, James Robertson,The Early Religion of Israel:Amos is a lithe, keen,snell man.
- Quick-witted;clever.
1861, John Brown,Horæ Subsecivæ:With all this heavy artillery, somewhat slow and cumbrous, on great questions, he had no want, when he was speaking off-hand, of quick,snell remark, often witty and full of spirit, and often too unexpected, like lightning—flashing, smiting, and gone.
- Harsh,severe, orstinging.
1833, Michael Scott,Tom Cringle's Log:Conscience is a rough lad, I grant you, and I am keen andsnell also; but never mind, take his advice, and you’ll be some credit to your freens yet, ye scoonrel.
1881, Robert Buchanan,God and the Man:Fortunately, we were well prepared for such an emergency, and being sheltered in a safe creek, we roofed the ship with canvas against the snow; and so, with land on every side of us, plenty of moss fuel ashore, a good stock of provisions, and firearms for hunting, we held our trouble, and passed thesnell season without the loss of a single soul aboard.
snell (comparativemoresnell,superlativemostsnell)
- Alternative form ofsnelly
Unknown
snell (pluralsnells)
- A shortline of horsehair, gut, monofilament, etc., by which afishhook orlure is attached to a longer (and usually heavier) line.
1979, Cormac McCarthy,Suttree, Random House, page194:He tied on new baitedsnells and recovered the current with the oars.
short line to attach a hook or lure to heavier line
snell (third-person singular simple presentsnells,present participlesnelling,simple past and past participlesnelled)
- Totie a hook to the end of afishing line with asnell knot.
Can you show me how tosnell a hook?
FromProto-West Germanic*snell, fromProto-Germanic*snellaz(“quick, swift”). Cognate withschnell.
snell (comparativesnelra)
- lively,quick,rapid,strong
- keen,ready
Declension ofsnell — Strong
Declension ofsnell — Weak
