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单词 reel
释义

reeln.1

Brit. /riːl/, U.S. /ril/
Forms: Old English hreol, Old English riul (rare), Old English–early Middle English reol, Middle English 1600s reell, Middle English 1600s– reel, Middle English–1600s rele, late Middle English real, late Middle English rel, late Middle English relle, late Middle English reyl (northern), late Middle English reyle (northern), late Middle English reyll (northern), late Middle English–1500s ryle, late Middle English–1600s reele, 1500s reill, 1500s rile; Scottish pre-1700 reall, pre-1700 reell, pre-1700 reil, pre-1700 reill, pre-1700 riel, pre-1700 1700s– reel.
Origin: Perhaps a variant or alteration of another lexical item.
Etymology: Perhaps < an ablaut variant (with different suffix) of the Germanic base of rail n.1 Compare later reel v.1 Compare also later reel n.2, reel n.3; the relationship between these words is not completely clear. ( Sc. National Dict. at Reel n.1 takes the three nouns as showing sense developments of a single word.)It has sometimes been suggested that sense 4 may have been influenced by reel n.2 1, but this seems unlikely in view of the different geographical distribution. Compare also reeling n.2 2, and later reel v.2 4, reeler n.1 3. Scottish Gaelic righil, ridhil, ruidhil, etc. are < Scots.
1.
a. A device on to which yarn or thread is wound during production or processing and from which it may easily be wound off; a yarn-winder. Also figurative. Cf. swift n.2 5a.In its most simple form a hand-held wooden instrument on to which yarn is wound after being spun (see niddy-noddy n. 3). Also any of various more complex devices, typically one having several arms radiating from a central spindle which may be rotated in order to wind the yarn on to the ends of the arms. The size of the reel is frequently such that in a given number of turns it takes up a certain length of yarn, allowing skeins of known length to be wound.
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the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture of thread or yarn > [noun] > winding > on reel > instrument for
reelOE
reeler1598
reeling stick1598
OE Antwerp Gloss. (1955) 243 Alibrum, hreol.
lOE Laws: Gerefa (Corpus Cambr.) xv. 455 Fela towtola:..spinle, reol, gearnwindan.
a1325 Gloss. W. de Bibbesworth (Arun.) (1857) 157 (MED) Ma filee moustre en travayl [glossed] do my yaarn on the reel.
c1350 Nominale (Cambr. Ee.4.20) in Trans. Philol. Soc. (1906) 17* Conoil trahul et ramoun, Rokke reel and besme.
c1400 Femina (Trin. Cambr.) (1909) 36 (MED) To þe Reel ȝow by houyþ to go, And after ȝe shulle go to þe ȝarnewynder.
c1450 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 564/32 Appendium, a yernwynder, or a reel.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1897–1973) 32 (MED) Ther is garn on the reyll other, my dame.
1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus ii. f. 29v Ilk ane [had] in hand ane Reill..To reill thair hankis so small of reid gold wyir.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Guindre, a reele, or wheele to wind silke on.
1693 in Acts Parl. Scotl. (1822) IX. 3112 Their Majesties Prohibite and Discharge the Selling any Linnen Yarne not put up into hesps, each hesp containing twelve cutts, and each cutt containing six score threeds, and that no Reele be made use of under the measure and length of Ten Quarters.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) Those most in use are, 1°. A little Reel held in the Hand, consisting of three Pieces of Wood...2°. The Common Reel, or Windlass, which turns upon a Pivot..whereon the Skain to be reel'd is put.
1766 B. Franklin Let. 6 Apr. in Wks. (1887) III. 458 The reels are to screw on the edge of the table, when she would wind silk or thread.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 387 These reels are of a sufficient breadth to wind off about 50 cops..at the same time.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 1114 The arm..is capable of being bent inwards,..so as to permit the hanks, when finished, to be taken off, as in every common reel.
1894 Cassell's New Techn. Educ. IV. 369 The reel is now almost always driven by power, the driving gear being a friction pulley on a cross shaft.
1904 Eng. Dial. Dict. V. 78/2 A reel for woollen yarn is a frame one yard in diameter, and is used for ascertaining how many yards of the material to be reeled goes to an ounce.
1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 709/2 Reel, a machine consisting of two collapsible frames on which yarn from cops or bobbins is wound in skeins or hanks.
1987 S. Bush Silk Industry 15/1 The correct amount of twist is achieved by causing the spindle and flyer to rotate at faster speeds than the reel receiving the thread.
2003 A. D. Hood Weaver's Craft iv. 75 The small tool in the foreground is a hand reel, also called a ‘niddy-noddy’.
b. Any similar device on which another material, as paper, rope, fabric, etc., is wound during production or processing.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > rope-making equipment > [noun] > other rope-making equipment
warping-tree1404
throw-crook1557
warping-stock1588
spun-yarn winch1627
winch1640
woolder1750
register1793
top minor1793
laying-top1794
warping-block1794
whirl1794
reel1797
warping-post1797
whirl-hook1797
strand-hook1825
spreader1830
register plate1832
wimble1863
snugger1875
strop1875
1797 Encycl. Brit. XVI. 483/2 The first spinner [in rope-making] takes it off the whirl hook, joins it to his own, that it may follow it on the reel, and begins a new yarn.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 369 The reel or winder being now withdrawn, the coil of paper is cut on both sides, forming sheets of the length and breadth of the machine and reel on which it is wound.
1957 Encycl. Brit. XIX. 546/1 As the strand [of rope yarn] is twisted it is wound on a large reel.
2007 C. A. Gross Electric Machines iii. 88 A re-winder, or take-up reel, similar to that used in the paper and textile industries.
c. In wire-drawing: a revolving frame or drum round which the wire is wound as part of the drawing process.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > metalworking equipment > [noun] > wire-making equipment
wortlea1525
swingle1674
reel1825
copper1828
riddle1843
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 347 The wire to be drawn is placed upon a reel..which turns upon a vertical pin.
1833 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal II. 338 As soon as the wire is entirely drawn off the reel..and has passed through the plate [etc.].
1860 J. Johnston Man. Chem. (ed. 6) 286 A rod from the rolling mill, in the form of a coil, or a coil of wire, is placed upon the reel.
1913 H. O. Hofman Gen. Metall. xi. 686 (caption) The reel on which the wire to be drawn is coiled.
1961 Wire Industry Encycl. Handbk. 414/1 These reels are made from a steel which is exactly suitable for annealing purposes, so that the wire may be annealed on the reels if required.
1992 Penton's Controls & Syst. (Nexis) Mar. 38 The wire is taken up on a reel as it leaves the drawing machine.
2.
a. Any of various devices consisting of or incorporating a rotatable component by means of which a cord, line, cable, etc., can be paid out or rewound as required. In quot. 1679 probably: the revolving barrel of a clock around which the chain or rope of the pendulum is wound.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > other specific types of equipment > [noun] > other tools and equipment
pollhache1324
poleaxe1356
muckrake1366
pestlea1382
botea1450
staff1459
press-board1558
reel1593
water crane1658
lathekin1659
tower1662
dressing hook1683
liner1683
hovel1686
flax-brake1688
nipper1688
horse1728
tap1797
feather-stick1824
bow1839
safety belt1840
economizer1841
throttle damper1849
cleat1854
leg brace1857
bark-peeler1862
pugging screw1862
nail driver1863
spool1864
turntable1865
ovate1872
tension bar1879
icebreaker1881
spreader1881
toucher1881
window pole1888
mushroom head1890
rat1894
slackline1896
auger1897
latch hook1900
thimble1901
horse1904
pipe jack1909
mulcher1910
hand plate1911
splashguard1917
cheese-cutter1927
airbrasive1945
impactor1945
fogger1946
1593 in D. Yaxley Researcher's Gloss. Hist. Documents E. Anglia (2003) 171 1 rele & 1 settinge yron.
1679 Stirling Common Good f. 129v For makeing ane reell of iron for saveing the tou of the paise of the knock..£1 10 s.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Log A little cord..wound round a Reel fix'd for that purpose in the Gallery of the Ship.
1765 Museum Rusticum 4 310 That mine might stand with all possible exactness, each man had a garden-line and reel.
1846 Times 14 Nov. 8/4 She left port..and, before the wind, ran 8½ knots off her reel, but only 5 with the wind ahead.
1889 C. Sleeman Torpedoes (ed. 2) 235 The torpedo is launched, and the engine started which is to work the unwinding reels or drums.
1931 V. Woolf Waves 123 Time has whizzed back an inch or two on its reel.
1942 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 42 391 To set up the traction, all that is necessary is to clamp the reel to the bed..pull out the tape and attach it..to the spreader on the limb prepared in the usual way for weight traction.
1992 Do It Yourself (BNC) Oct. 4 There's a choice of five different reels, four of which have three socket outlets which can be used simultaneously.
b. spec. Such a device attached to the butt of a fishing rod, incorporating a revolving barrel on which the line is spooled.
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the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > reel > [noun]
troll1570
winch1662
reel1688
twirl1688
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. iii. 102/1 Troull, is a kind of fishing for Pike with a Rod whose lines runs on a Reele.
1740 R. Brookes Art of Angling 9 Your Line must be of Silk..; there must likewise be a Reel to wind it upon.
1787 T. Best Conc. Treat. Angling (ed. 2) 169 Veer your line, let it off the reel after striking.
1833 J. Rennie Alphabet Sci. Angling 55 The..angler is provided with a long line wound on a reel.
1862 H. Kingsley Ravenshoe III. xiii. 201 The old gentleman began to wind up his reel, and then the lad..lifted the fish.
1892 R. Niven Brit. Angler's Lex. 190 Reels are made in several designs, such as plain, check, revolving plate, multipliers [etc.].
1919 Outing Mar. 308/2 The doctor from Columbus had a reel he had used for coast fishing and thought would do for trolling.
1951 S. H. Edwards Shooting & Bushcraft 48 A ‘Ned Kelly’ rig to a fisherman is a rod without a reel and a short line.
1995 Carpworld July 11 (advt.) The unique Fuji/KM handle..easily accommodates any of today's long cast reels.
c. figurative. off the reel.
(a) Originally and chiefly U.S. Immediately; without hesitation. Chiefly in right off the reel.
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the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [adverb]
soonc825
ratheeOE
rathelyeOE
rekeneOE
rekenlyOE
thereright971
anonOE
forth ona1000
coflyc1000
ferlyc1000
radlyOE
swiftlyc1000
unyoreOE
yareOE
at the forme (also first) wordOE
nowOE
shortlya1050
rightOE
here-rightlOE
right anonlOE
anonc1175
forthrightc1175
forthwithalc1175
skeetc1175
swithc1175
with and withc1175
anon-rightc1225
anon-rights?c1225
belivec1225
lightly?c1225
quickly?c1225
tidelyc1225
fastlyc1275
hastilyc1275
i-radlichec1275
as soon asc1290
aright1297
bedenea1300
in little wevea1300
withoute(n dwella1300
alrightc1300
as fast (as)c1300
at firstc1300
in placec1300
in the placec1300
mididonec1300
outrightc1300
prestc1300
streck13..
titec1300
without delayc1300
that stounds1303
rada1325
readya1325
apacec1325
albedenec1330
as (also also) titec1330
as blivec1330
as line rightc1330
as straight as linec1330
in anec1330
in presentc1330
newlyc1330
suddenlyc1330
titelyc1330
yernec1330
as soon1340
prestly1340
streckly1340
swithly?1370
evenlya1375
redelya1375
redlya1375
rifelya1375
yeplya1375
at one blastc1380
fresha1382
ripelyc1384
presentc1385
presently1385
without arrestc1385
readilyc1390
in the twinkling of a looka1393
derflya1400
forwhya1400
skeetlya1400
straighta1400
swifta1400
maintenantc1400
out of handc1400
wightc1400
at a startc1405
immediately1420
incontinent1425
there and then1428
onenec1429
forwithc1430
downright?a1439
agatec1440
at a tricec1440
right forth1440
withouten wonec1440
whipc1460
forthwith1461
undelayed1470
incessantly1472
at a momentc1475
right nowc1475
synec1475
incontinently1484
promptly1490
in the nonce?a1500
uncontinent1506
on (upon, in) the instant1509
in short1513
at a clap1519
by and by1526
straightway1526
at a twitch1528
at the first chop1528
maintenantly1528
on a tricea1529
with a tricec1530
at once1531
belively1532
straightwaysa1533
short days1533
undelayedly1534
fro hand1535
indelayedly1535
straight forth1536
betimesc1540
livelyc1540
upononc1540
suddenly1544
at one (or a) dash?1550
at (the) first dash?1550
instantly1552
forth of hand1564
upon the nines1568
on the nail1569
at (also in, with) a thoughtc1572
indilately1572
summarily1578
at one (a) chop1581
amain1587
straightwise1588
extempore1593
presto1598
upon the place1600
directly1604
instant1604
just now1606
with a siserary1607
promiscuously1609
at (in) one (an) instant1611
on (also upon) the momenta1616
at (formerly also on or upon) sight1617
hand to fist1634
fastisha1650
nextly1657
to rights1663
straightaway1663
slap1672
at first bolt1676
point-blank1679
in point1680
offhand1686
instanter1688
sonica1688
flush1701
like a thought1720
in a crack1725
momentary1725
bumbye1727
clacka1734
plumba1734
right away1734
momentarily1739
momentaneously1753
in a snap1768
right off1771
straight an end1778
abruptedly1784
in a whistle1784
slap-bang1785
bang?1795
right off the reel1798
in a whiff1800
in a flash1801
like a shot1809
momently1812
in a brace or couple of shakes1816
in a gird1825
(all) in a rush1829
in (also at, on) short (also quick) order1830
straightly1830
toot sweetc1830
in two twos1838
rectly1843
quick-stick1844
short metre1848
right1849
at the drop of a (occasionally the) hat1854
off the hooks1860
quicksticks1860
straight off1873
bang off1886
away1887
in quick sticks (also in a quick stick)1890
ek dum1895
tout de suite1895
bung1899
one time1899
prompt1910
yesterday1911
in two ups1934
presto changeo1946
now-now1966
presto change1987
1798 C. Stearns Inquisitor iii. i, in Dramatic Dialogues for Use in Schools 389 When they praised St. Dominic—I was mad, and tho I do not swear often, I swore then, and damned his Saint off the reel—for I hate cruelty.
1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. vi. 156 So then, says he to me, says he; sharp off the reel;—as 'cute a feller, that, as ever you seed.
1835 Gentleman's Vade-Mecum (Philadelphia) 14 Feb. 3/1 Where's my old man—tell me that..where's Tom Bloomberg—tell us right off the reel.
1880 G. A. Sala in Illustr. London News 25 Dec. 619 Can you always say pusillanimity right off the reel?
1900 G. Ade Fables in Slang 27 He could tell you quick—right off the Reel.
1951 F. Yerby Woman called Fancy ii. 44 ‘You want to bring me back?’ Court said. ‘Why, little Fancy?’ ‘Can't answer that—not right off the reel. Don't rightly know myself.’
1998 Boston Globe (Nexis) 5 Apr. a22 (headline) Legal's offer accepted right off the reel.
(b) British (chiefly Sport). Without stopping, without interruption; in quick succession.
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the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > continuity or uninterruptedness > continuously or uninterruptedly [phrase] > in continuous succession
forne onc1175
(one) in (also on) the neck of another1525
in a successiona1715
hand-running?1807
off the reel1866
on the trot1952
1866 C. Dickens Let. 20 Feb. (1999) XI. 161 [The story] seems to me to be so constituted as to require to be read ‘off the reel’.
1884 St. James's Gaz. 13 June 4/1 He won five races off the reel.
1927 Daily Tel. 3 May 17/2 The Eton XI..were undefeated, having scored four victories off the reel.
1946 Sunday Disp. 8 Sept. 6/5 Won six races off the reel for Wembley Cubs.
2004 Racing Post 7 May 28/2 Cerulean Rose Reinvented as a sprinter last year to great effect, winning five handicaps off the reel.
3. A cylindrical core around which a flexible material is wound for use or storage, typically having a rim or flange at each end and frequently with a central hole to allow it to be placed upon a rod or spindle; esp. a small cylinder, typically made of wood or (later) plastic, on which sewing thread is wound for use. †reel in a bottle: a curio consisting of such a reel inside a glass bottle, the neck of which is smaller than the reel; also figurative. Cf. ship in a bottle n. at ship n.1 Phrases 9.
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the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > thread or yarn > [noun] > reel of
reel1785
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture of thread or yarn > [noun] > winding > winding on spool or bobbin > spool or bobbin
spoolc1325
pirn1440
rocket1440
quillc1450
bobbin1530
reed1530
spill1594
twill1664
ratchet1728
pirnie1776
runner1784
reel1785
spindle1837
1729 Catal. Rarities Don Saltero's Coffee-house 16 A Reel in a Bottle.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. xvi. 162 One compared it to Robinson Crusoe's long-boat, too large to be removed; another thought it more resembled a reel in a bottle; some wondered how it should be got out, and still more were amazed how it ever got in.
1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 264 Weaving nets..Or twining silken threads round ivory reels.
1814 W. Scott Waverley III. xvii. 248 He looked not unlike that ingenious puzzle, called a reel in a bottle . View more context for this quotation
1839 G. Bird Elements Nat. Philos. 270 Winding on a wooden reel, about three inches in length, with a hollow axis, about sixty feet of insulated copper wire.
1861 Newton's London Jrnl. 1 Mar. 133 A respectable firm of sewing cotton manufacturers was induced to reduce the size of their reels.
1900 Geogr. Jrnl. 15 332 The wire..when not in use, is rolled on a wooden reel.
1962 E. K. Balls Early Uses Calif. Plants 39 The Karok Indians made spoons from this wood..sticks for scraping Acorn soup off the sides of the cooking-baskets, reels for string, and tobacco pipes.
2005 M. M. Neal et al. Needlework for Schools (ed. 2) ii. 20 When threading the needle, it should be threaded with the end left on the reel and this end should become the shorter of the two lengths of thread.
4. A rapid buzzing, humming, or clicking noise, like that of a reel in motion, chiefly as produced by various birds and insects. Cf. reel v.2 4.rare before 20th cent.
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the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > [noun] > monotonous sound > hum
humblingc1384
hummingc1440
hum1601
reel1747
reeling1747
bum1790
bumble1834
brum1842
1747 R. Maxwell Pract. Bee-master 35 By this Time also, the Drones will begin to make their Appearance, and your Hive will be making a Reel, as we call it, once every Day.
1908 Times 11 Apr. 4/2 When the swift shrieks in the heat-dance round the tower, and the nocturnal reel of the nightjar is first heard.
1987 C. Perrins New Generation Guide Birds of Brit. & Europe 168 Grasshopper Warbler..song distinctive grasshopper reel from thick cover.
2003 Sunday Express (Nexis) 15 June 70 A Savi's warbler gave an endless, cricket-like reel that reminded me of the electric buzz of overhead power lines.
5. A rotating component in a machine.
a. A revolving drum or roller by means of which a material is caused or assisted to travel through the various stages of a mechanized process, as dyeing cloth, etc.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > conveyor > [noun] > rotatory apparatus
reel1791
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > other parts > [noun] > cylinders
cylinder?a1560
drum1744
reel1791
reel1825
1791 W. Hamilton tr. C.-L. Berthollet Elements Art of Dyeing I. i. ii. ii. 159 For the pieces of stuff, a winch or reel is used [Fr. On se sert pour les pièces d'étoffe, d'un tour dont les deux extrémités sont posées sur deux fourchettes].
1822 Imison's Sci. & Art II. 185 The stuffs..are drawn through them [sc. the dye baths] by a winch, or reel.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 1072 In tarring the yarn, it is found favourable..to allow it to pass around or under a reel or roller in the bottom of the kettle.
1894 Cassell's New Techn. Educ. IV. 24 This [band] is supported and drawn continuously through the liquor by means of a reel or winch placed above, and driven by power.
1987 B. Leatham-Jones Elements Industr. Robotics i. 16 Filler metal is usually continuously fed by motorised reels or drums.
2006 A. K. R. Choudhury Textile Prepar. & Dyeing 433 The reel does not grip the fabric positively, but by the weight of the wet fabric and the friction between the reel and the fabric.
b. A rotating cylinder or drum used for mixing, sifting, etc.; (in early use) a drum or framework on to which a bolting cloth is fastened for sifting flour (now rare).
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society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > other parts > [noun] > cylinders
cylinder?a1560
drum1744
reel1791
reel1825
1825 Brit. Patent 5102 (1857) 2 The bolting cloth is a cylindrical seive [sic], and considerably larger in diameter than the reel upon which it is fixed.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 626 These granular particles are afterwards separated from the finer dust by proper sieves and reels.
1845 Encycl. Metrop. VIII. 366/2 The bolting-mill consists of a reel fitted to an axle which revolves with great rapidity; the reel is covered with cloth..in the inside of which the flour to be prepared is placed.
1883 K. Neftel Rep. Flour-milling (10th Census U.S.) 16 The wheat is scalped in four reels.
1915 J. P. Arthur Hist. Watauga County 332 He..built the dam and grist mill of the present Mast mill before the Civil War, bolting the ground wheat by an old reel still in existence.
1990 G. R. Huber & G. J. Rokey in R. G. Booth Snack Food vi. 119 The oils, flavors, and spices may be mixed together in a tank and applied to the extruded product as it is tumbled in a flavor-application reel.
1991 S. A. Matz Chem. & Technol. Cereals as Food & Feed (ed. 2) iv. 149 In the scalper, the grain is passed over and through squirrel cage reels of wire mesh while being aspirated.
c. In a reaping machine: a large cylinder consisting of an arrangement of radial arms joined by horizontal bars, which by its rotation presses the grain towards the knives.
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the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > harvesting equipment > [noun] > reaping tools > reaping-machine > parts of
fingera1722
reel1845
finger-bar1847
sweep-rakea1884
1845 Ohio Cultivator 15 Mar. 47 The reel is placed high or low to suit long or short grain, by means of a buckle to the band and screw to the reel post, which screw also keeps the band tight. The reel ribs are put in spirally for the purpose of equalizing the resistance of the cutting.
1879 Scribner's Monthly Nov. 134/2 The reaping machines with their glare of paint and burnished steel, and their great overwhelming ‘reels’, have a kind of Homeric character.
1954 R. H. Cochrane Farm Machinery & Tractors (ed. 2) 58 The cutter bar cuts the crop as it is pressed backwards by the reel and the elevator canvas raises the crop to the feeder canvas, where it is fed into the threshing drum.
1991 P. Jenkins Fields of Vision xix. 140 I..joined him on top of the combine while we waited for its tank to fill...His eyes were riveted to just in front of the reel, searching ahead for bumps, rocks, thin growth.
d. The revolving frame or wheel in a reel oven. See reel oven n. at Compounds 2.
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1864 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1862: Arts & Manuf. I. 416 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (37th Congr., 3rd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 52) X A baking chamber suitable for and containing the reel apparatus and bake pans.
a1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. II. 1905/2 The reel has a horizontal axis, which is rotated by gearing on the outside. To each arm of the reel..is a pendulous shelf or bread-pan.
1966 W. J. Fance Student's Technol. Breadmaking & Flour Confectionery i. xii. 129 The reel inside the oven is fitted with metal plates on which is placed bread or cakes.
2006 Y. H. Hui et al. Bakery Products iii. xv. 281/2 The major difference in a traveling tray oven compared with a reel oven is the use of two parallel, endless chains that carry trays through the baking chamber instead of a reel.
e. North American. The revolving cylinder of blades in a reel mower.
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1916 Rep. Richmond, Indiana, Surv. for Vocational Educ. (Indiana State Board Educ.) vi. 74 Among the more important machine operations connected with lawn mower manufacture is the grinding of the blades on the reel.
1958 Life 19 May 89/3 (advt.) The 27-inch Toro Starlawn mows up to 5 acres a day. Separate reel and traction controls.
2007 Star Phoenix (Saskatoon, Sask.) (Nexis) 19 May f2 Half the time, the reel would seize, freeze and pitch the user at its steel blades.
6. A quantity of some flexible material wound on or produced by a reel; a coil or roll of such material with or without a central core; spec. the very large, continuous roll of paper produced by the process of papermaking.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > paper-making equipment > [noun] > other paper-making equipment
reel1809
deckle1810
ass1823
stuff-shovel1858
grounding-machine1877
asp1919
riffler1924
1809 Brit. Patent 3191 (1855) 2 The frame in being forced towards the reel of paper presses the arms down.
1888 D. Salomons Managem. Accumulators (ed. 3) ii. ii. 98 The portable lamp has a reel of twin wire at its base.
1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 198 Forty-three years ago Applegath proposed to print from the reel.
1907 E. M. Forster Longest Journey ii. 29 Cotton, please—a reel of No. 50 white from my chest of drawers.
1965 G. Daniels How to be Home Electrician i. 16 You'll need a reel of ‘fish tape’ if you plan to snake new wiring through old walls.
2001 Advertiser (Adelaide) (Nexis) 26 Sept. l12 The favourite part of the tour for school students..is watching the robotic AGVs (automatic guided vehicles) move massive reels of newsprint.
7. The flanged core around which a material serving as a recording medium is wound; esp. one holding magnetic tape or photographic film. Hence: a quantity of tape, film, etc., so wound. Also (Film): a portion of a motion picture.In quot. 1901, the revolving spool bearing the photographs in a mutoscope (rare).In early use in Film, reel was restricted in signification to a fixed length of film, normally one thousand feet at 35 mm. gauge, complete films being called two-reelers, etc. (see -reeler comb. form). Such a reel runs for approximately fifteen minutes at sixteen frames per second of silent film, or for approximately ten at twenty-four frames per second for a film with a soundtrack. The word is now used of other fixed lengths, of standard lengths of film at other gauges, and also without regard to length.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > plates and films > [noun] > film > reel
reel1890
society > communication > telecommunication > telegraphy or telephony > telegraphy > telegraph > [noun] > types of > recording telegraphs > parts of
telegraph reel1851
reel1890
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > filming > filming equipment > [noun] > film > reel of
reel1890
1890 Manufacturer & Builder July 151/2 The sensitive film is wound on a wooden spool..and the end of the film carried over the exposing bed and attached to the reel.
1901 Everybody's Mag. Aug. 230/2 Ordinary photographs are printed from the negative film and mounted on a central spool, from nine hundred to twenty-seven hundred pictures to a ‘reel’, as it is called.
1937 New Yorker 13 Feb. 15/3 In the last reel, when he comes to her, a sadder but wiser man, and says, ‘I see it all now. Oh, what a fool I have been.’
1941 B. Schulberg What makes Sammy Run? xi. 193 Two-reel horse-operas.
1958 H. G. M. Spratt Magn. Tape Recording iii. 55 The tape..when wound on the normal type of spool employed, will result in a reel ranging from 5–12 in. in diameter.
1964 Communications ACM 7 630/1 This standard covers the physical dimensions of take-up (or storage) reels, with either fixed or separable flanges, so that reels of perforated tape may be interchanged among machines of various manufacturers.
1972 Daily Tel. 19 June 24/4 I don't know what I took. I know I shot three reels—36 pictures on each—but don't ask me what is on them.
2001 Q July 145/4 In the final reel there are just too many surprises, which inflate the restrained black humour into open farce.

Compounds

C1.
a. General attributive.
(a)
reel arm n.
ΚΠ
1855 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1854: Arts & Manuf. I. 340 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (33rd Congr., 2nd Sess.: U.S. House of Representatives Executive Doc. 59, Pt. 1) VII The maize, when cut by the cutting-arrangement, which is of ordinary form, falls by its own weight on the reel-arm.
a1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. II. 1905/2 The pans, instead of being pendulous, are placed above the reel-arms.
1996 Big Reel 15 June 32 New/rebuilt Super Simplex projector complete with..115 volt. pedestal, reel arms, Kelmar amplifier.
reel boy n.
ΚΠ
1918 Nation (N.Y.) 7 Feb. 130/1 Defeating the man in whose flax mill he had worked as a reel boy.
2000 Redcliffe & Bayside Herald (Queensland) (Nexis) 13 Sept. ‘My interest goes back to when I was a kid and I put a ball bearing through the local movie screen,’ he said. As punishment he was put to work as reel boy and left the cinema three years later as assistant projectionist.
reel brake n.
ΚΠ
1872 U.S. Patent 127,277 1/1 Fig. 3 is a detail view of the reel-brake and device for operating the wheel to wind up the hose.
1932 Times 16 Sept. 6/6 So great is the pressure on the line that it becomes necessary to release the reel brake to avoid a smash.
2007 D. A. Douglass & R. Thrash in L. L. Grigsby Electric Power Generation iii. 14.40 These devices may accommodate rope or conductor reels of varying sized and are usually equipped with reel brakes to prevent the reels from turning when pulling is stopped.
reel clutch n.
ΚΠ
1877 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining 224 For throwing the reel-clutches in and out of gear.
1995 Carpworld July (verso front cover) It is an advantage to tighten the reel clutch and clip the rod handle into the rear rests.
reel shaft n.
ΚΠ
1844 Amer. Agriculturist Aug. 239/2 Fig. 2.— q, beviled-wheel; r, fly-wheel; w, reel-shaft.
1877 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining 224 The crank-shaft is 8 inches in diameter, the reel-shaft 10 inches.
1998 A. Sealy Everest Hotel (1999) 112 The wind catches up the kite... Now there's a tension to the string and Brij milks it with his free hand while the other arm crooks the reel shaft.
reel stand n.
ΚΠ
1856 Leeds Mercury 17 Apr. 3/3 The wood of which this reel-stand is made was grown in the garden of the parsonage at Epworth, Lincolnshire.
1969 E. H. Pinto Treen 320 The silk on the spool of the cocoon winder was then transferred to the lead-weighted reel stand.
1999 Dayton (Ohio) Daily News (Nexis) 26 Sept. 9 Each reel stand has two arms, each one holding a 3,000-pound roll of newsprint.
(b) In sense 2b.
reel band n.
ΚΠ
1864 T. Norris Amer. Angler's Bk. xiii. 346 The thickest part, where the reel-band is placed, say nine inches above the end, should be an inch and five-sixteenths.
1996 Bulletin-Bend (Nexis) 11 Aug. g1 Ferrules, butt ends, reel bands and other reel fittings are nickel silver.
reel line n.
ΚΠ
1800 S. Taylor Angling in All its Branches ii. 112 Take your foot-length..and loop it to the reel-line.
1885 W. J. Cummins Catal. Fishing Tackle 50 The best reel lines will soon rot if wound wet on the reel and left in that condition.
1994 Coarse Fishing Today June 45/2 I just tie a 12-inch piece of line a couple of feet up the reel line, with a four-turn water knot.
reel plate n.
ΚΠ
1873 U.S. Patent 137,015 1/1 My invention consists in constructing a reel-plate for fishing rods of one piece of metal of a cylindrical or tube form, having a longitudinal depression on its surface for inserting the foot or plate of the reel.
1922 Forest & Stream 92 186/3 Our rods..consisted of two joints, heavily shouldered at the butt into a short handle carrying the reel plate.
1991 San Diego Union-Tribune (Nexis) 27 Jan. h17 A steady retrieve is demanded, halting only if a strong fish, usually a ling cod, starts taking out line. The reel plate makes it easy.
reel seat n.
ΚΠ
1878 C. Hallock Hallock's Amer. Club List & Sportsman's Gloss. p. ix Reel seat, the plate or groove on a fishing-rod which receives the reel.
1904 Collier's 7 May 20/3 (advt.) This Splendid High Grade Outfit consists of a hexagon three jointed, split bamboo nickel mounted rod, made of selected stock,..very closely silk wrapped, solid metal reel seat.
1995 Carpworld July 109/4 (advt.) All models are built using double leg rings..and Fuji reel seat.
b. Objective.
reel-maker n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > producer > makers of other articles > [noun] > of other specific finished articles
anchorsmith1296
paliser1315
sheather1379
buckler-maker1415
barrow-maker1468
chess-maker1481
belt maker1483
leg-makera1500
reel-makera1500
card maker1511
lattice-maker1550
pale cleaver1578
bead-maker1580
boss-maker1580
balloonier1598
bilbo-smith1632
block-makera1687
pen-makera1703
pipe-maker1766
platemaker1772
stickman1786
safe maker?1789
matchmaker1833
chipmaker1836
labelmaker1844
bandagist1859
hurdler1874
moon cutter1883
tie-maker1901
a1500 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 686/37 Hic citaciarius, a relmaker.
1734 E. Lee Statute-law of Irel. Common-placed 349 Each Skean to contain 6 Lays, each Lay 160 Threads, and no more, on pain that the Reel-maker shall forfeit 5s.
1854 Census 1851 I. cxxv. Table 53 Reel-maker.
1992 Fly Rod & Reel Jan. 25/1 West Coast reel maker Joe Saracione has recently developed an innovative big-game reel with a disengaging gear system.
reel protector n.
ΚΠ
1876 W. H. Preece & J. Sivewright Telegraphy 260 This ‘reel’ protector..was adopted for a considerable time in both the needle and Morse instruments.
2005 Trailer Boats (Nexis) 1 Feb. 60 Robalo's under-gunwale rod storage features reel protectors to prevent scuffing during transit.
reel-winding adj.
ΚΠ
1853 Manch. Examiner & Times 19 Nov. 2/2 To be let or sold, as they stand..one Winding Frame, 24 drums, reel-winding and doubling bobbins.
1982 Times 20 Nov. 3/5 Cassette Hose has a two-year guarantee and is available from motor accessory outlets at £18.95 for 20 metres, including a snap-on reel-winding knob.
2006 Product News Network (Nexis) 13 June Designed with dual-carcass structure, Super Stream Hose is suited for reel-winding systems in rough seas.
C2.
reel backing n. originally U.S. Angling a supplementary line attached to a casting line and wound on to the reel first to provide extra length when needed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > fishing-line > [noun] > first layer on reel
reel backing1959
1959 W. Faulkner Mansion xii. 346 His uncle had the gun..a black strong small-gauge length of reel-backing running from the trigger through a series of screw eyes to the sash of the window screen.
1976 C. S. Brown Gloss. Faulkner's South 161 Reel-backing.., a heavy (often old) length of fishing-line wound as the first layer on a fishing reel, and hence the last piece if the entire line is reeled out.
2003 Southland (N.Z.) Times (Nexis) June 7 ‘Ping’ went Mr Olive's $140 line as it parted from the reel backing.
reel barge n. Oil Industry a barge, esp. one towed by a ship, that is used to lay submarine pipelines which are carried as extended lengths coiled on a reel (cf. reel ship n.); also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessel of specific construction or shape > flat-bottomed boat > [noun] > barge > other types of barge
coal barge1720
budgerow1727
water1727
brick barge1738
tent-barge1796
water barge1798
passage-barge1804
steam barge1812
schooner barge1819
tongkang1834
bumbarge1839
Tom Pudding1880
grain-barge1902
butty1923
support barge1967
reel barge1972
1972 Study of Potential Benefits Offshore Oil & Gas Devel. (Internat. Managem. & Engin. Group of Brit. Ltd.) x. 80 There is also the highly promising reel-barge technique, which, however, has so far been limited to comparatively small diameter pipe.
1977 Galveston (Texas) Daily News 14 Sept. 1/5 The Chickasaw is a smaller, non self-propelled reel barge which, since its construction in 1970, has laid nearly 6,000 miles of oil and gas pipelines up to 12 inches in diameter.
1997 Shetland Times 10 Oct. 4/1 (caption) The massive bulk of the reel barge CSO Apache berthed briefly at Holmsgarth on Sunday.
reel-fed adj. Printing designating or relating to a printing process or machine using paper from a continuous reel.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > printing machine or press > [adjective] > using reeled paper
web-fed1920
reel-fed1926
1926 Penrose's Ann. 28 135 A battery of reel-fed litho. offset rotaries are running most efficiently.
1971 D. Potter Brit. Elizabethan Stamps xiv. 150 Reel-fed printing takes the paper into the press on a continuous reel, and the printed sheets are later divided.
1998 Paper Focus Aug. 26/1 Reel fed label printing uses specialised equipment installed in companies that concentrate on this type of work.
reel-land n. the world of the cinema.Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1926 Chambers's Jrnl. Aug. 605/1 Some..would fain have treated her much in the style of those who at the present day mob the stars of reel-land.
reel man n. a person who is in charge of a reel of any sort; (in early use) spec. †a sailor who holds the reel from which a log line is paid out (obsolete).
ΚΠ
1788 P. M. Freneau Misc. Wks. 410 Poor Richard, the reel-man, had nothing to say; He knew very well I would have my own way.
1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick III. xxxix. 226 The towering resistance of the log caused the old reelman to stagger strangely.
1905 Washington Post 15 July 13/3 Laurel Fire Company, No. 2, met last evening and elected the following officers for the ensuing term:..chief reelman, Arthur Lewis.
1997 Herald-Sun (Durham, N. Carolina) (Nexis) 8 Apr. c2 The reel man handles the huge paper rolls on the press.
reel measure n. †(a) an instrument for measuring distance, consisting of a rotating wheel of known circumference, rolled along the ground by means of a handle, the number of rotations allowing the distance travelled to be calculated; = odometer n. (a) (obsolete); (b) an extendable tape measure wound upon a reel.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > measurement > measuring instrument > [noun] > for measuring distances > distance travelled
waywiser1651
perambulator1688
wheel1696
walking wheel1701
odometer1702
pedometer1723
pedometer1728
podometer1728
reel measure1803
viameter1845
roadometer1848
trocheameter1857
trechometer1858
cyclometer1880
pedimeter1890
passometer1902
sledge-meter1902
speedometer1929
mileometer1953
1803 G. Colman Let. in G. Raymond Mem. R. W. Elliston (1844) ix. 227 He can cram a hundred lengths into his head with the facility of a land-surveyor's reel-measure.
1884 G. E. Blakelee Industr. Cycl. 451 The Reel Measure. A reel for measuring land is made as follows.
2005 D. A. V. Stow Sedimentary Rocks in Field (2006) ii. 13/1 Tape measure (a long reel-measure if extensive logging is planned).
reel mower n. North American a lawnmower having blades which form a revolving cylinder, cutting the grass against a separate fixed blade.
ΚΠ
1947 News (Frederick, Maryland) 17 Sept. 5/8 (advt.) Sickle mower and reel mower attachments.
1977 Washington Post (Nexis) 15 July d12 The blade of a reel mower is not likely to become dull as quickly as that of a rotary.
2004 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 13 June iv. 6/1 At Fenway Park and at sports fields around the country, professionals use reel mowers with wide decks to cut the grass.
reel oven n. Baking a type of oven used in commercial bakeries, having shelves or trays attached to a wheel or framework which revolves about a horizontal axis.
ΚΠ
1864 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1862: Arts & Manuf. I. 416 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (37th Congr., 3rd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 52) X This invention relates to improvements in the class of ovens known as ‘reel ovens’.
1971 A. R. Daniel Bakers' Dict. (ed. 2) 167/2 Reel oven, the earliest type of travelling oven..in which a number of swinging shelves revolve about an axis. Each shelf can be brought to the oven mouth in turn by revolving the whole of the apparatus to which the shelves are attached.
1996 Progressive Grocer (Nexis) Apr. 121 For..bagel production...most operators use the reel oven because it combines both convection and conduction to produce a more traditional product.
reel-printing n. a type of printing, used especially for newspapers, in which paper is drawn into the press from a continuous reel.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > specific methods or processes > [noun] > printing on continuous roll of paper
web printing1870
reel-printing1890
web offset1925
1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 198 Printing from continuous paper is known as ‘web-printing’, ‘roll-printing’, or ‘reel-printing’.
1941 J. Carter & E. A. Crutchley H. G. Aldis's Printed Bk. (ed. 2) vi. 51 Reel-printing is unsuitable for books.
2007 Amer. Printer (Nexis) 1 Dec. 80 The hybrid flatbed/roll-to-roll printer combines the benefits of a flatbed device for efficient handling of rigid substrates and the flexibility of reel printing for long, unattended production runs on rolled media.
reel-room n. (a) a room in a cinema where reels of film are kept; (b) a room in which continuous reels of paper are stored for use in printing newspapers.
ΚΠ
1928 Daily Express 8 Oct. 2/1 Hundreds of children..filed from the..Cinema..while the staff tackled a fire in the reel-room behind the gallery.
1978 Information Bank Abstr. (N.Y. Times) (Nexis) 2 June iv. 5/2 A $24-million contract to buy [a] complete newspaper printing production system...Purchase includes four 9-unit presses plus fully automated reel-room equipment.
1999 Columbia Journalism Rev. Nov. 67 Floor-space, new or once occupied by printing presses, reel-rooms, rolls of paper and tanks of ink.
reel ship n. Oil Industry a ship used to lay submarine pipelines, carried as extended lengths coiled on a reel; cf. reel barge n.
ΚΠ
1976 Offshore Platforms & Pipelining 143/2 Santa Fe expects to launch its new reel ship in 1977.
2002 Offshore (Nexis) May 58 Reel ship Apache [is] capable of installing up to 16-in. pipe in over 600 m water depths due to its steeply inclined ramp.
reel staff n. Weaving (now historical) a length of wood holding a skein of yarn between two iron pins; (later) a rod that holds a reel in a machine.
ΚΠ
1630 in Minutes Norwich Court of Mayoralty 1630–1 (1942) 124 xlii dozen & eight Relestaves of Smalluff yarne which ought to be a yard about in the length of the Rulstaffe.
1650 in Acts & Ordnances Interregnum, 1642–60 (1911) II. 453 All Yarns called Worsted-Yarns..shall be..reeled on a Reel of a full Yard about, every Reel-staff containing Fourteen Lea's.
1870 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1868 II. 397/2 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (40th Congr., 3rd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 52) X The lower part of the reel staff may rotate, and as the reel revolves, the connections between the reel shaft and rake staff, together with the cam guide, cause the rake head to sweep over the platform.
1877 U.S. Trademark 191,160 in Specifications of Patents (U.S. Patent Office) 12 June 443/1 A represents the reel-staff. B is the chainpulley on the power-wheel, around which the chain a is passed.
1985 E. Kerridge Textile Manuf. Early Mod. Eng. xiv. 211 It was agreed in 1630 that yarnmasters should continue selling by the reel staff of one yard about, each staff having on it a dozen of worsted, i.e. fourteen leas of eighty yards, each lea having forty threads... Any country spinner could provide himself with a reel staff, which was just a length of wood with two iron pins driven in half a yard apart, so that each wind about came to one yard.
† reel swift n. Obsolete = swift n.2 5a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture of thread or yarn > [noun] > winding > on reel > instrument for > specific
swift1564
reel swift1853
swift reel1869
1853 Repertory Patent Inventions 22 250 m, is the reel-swift or barrel; n, is the thread-plate; o, is a screw for traversing the thread-plate.
1881 F. H. Bowman Structure of Cotton Fibre iii. 115 The cops or bobbins are placed on pegs or skewers, and the ends conducted by suitable guides on the reel swift.
1891 Textile Industries 12 Dec. 61/2 The end of the frame..carries two standards—the back one supporting the reel swift.
1921 H. R. Carter Jute & its Manuf. x. 105 The reel swift may take about 70 revolutions per minute, but much depends upon the quality and strength of the yarn.
† reel-tenter n. Obsolete a person who operates or supervises a mechanized reel for winding yarn.
ΚΠ
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 1114 Announcing to the reel-tenter that a measured length of silk has been wound upon her reel.
1852 Glasgow Herald 5 Nov. 8/3 (advt.) Yarn quadrant, reel tenter's tools, yarn weighing machine and weights.
reel timing n. a method of playing certain kinds of slot machine based on estimating the time taken for the reels to rotate and the likelihood of certain combinations of symbols resulting (see quot. 1964).
ΚΠ
1964 A. Wykes Gambling iii. 71 But another method, called ‘reel timing’, was not easy to track down... First, the player had to determine the exact number of seconds that each reel spun before coming to rest after the handle was pulled. Secondly, he had to memorize the sequence of all 60 symbols on the three reels... He had to be able to count..a certain number of seconds between the insertion of the coin and the pulling of the lever.
1987 T. L. Clark Dict. Gambling & Gaming 177/1 Since the late 1960s, manufacturers and operators have added counterweights on the clocks to prevent reel timing.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

reeln.2

Brit. /riːl/, U.S. /ril/
Forms: late Middle English rele, 1600s– reel; Scottish pre-1700 reill, pre-1700 1700s– reel, 1700s reil.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: reel v.1, revel n.1
Etymology: < reel v.1 It is possible that sense 4 may show a different word, a contraction of revel n.1 (compare e.g. ne'er adv.). Compare also discussion at reel n.1
1. Chiefly Scottish. A commotion, tumult; a noisy disturbance, uproar; (also) a crash; a peal. Now rare. Cf. reel v.1 2.In quots. a1450, 1535 perhaps: a violent rush, a charge.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > sudden or violent sound > [noun] > of impact or concussion > crash, clash, or smash
rackc1300
crushc1330
crashingc1440
rasha1450
reela1450
frush1487
clasha1522
crash1574
clush-clash1582
crush-crash1582
rouncival1582
clashing1619
rack1671
smash1808
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > commotion, disturbance, or disorder > [noun] > instance of
viretotec1386
moving?a1439
reela1450
stir1487
songa1500
pirrie1536
hurly-burly1548
make-a-do1575
confusions1599
the hunt is upa1625
ruffle1642
fuss1701
fraction1721
fizza1734
dust1753
noration1773
steeriea1776
splorea1791
rook1808
piece of work1810
curfuffle1813
squall1813
rookerya1820
stushie1824
shindy1829
shine1832
hurroosh1836
fustle1839
upsetting1847
shinty1848
ructions1862
vex1862
houp-la1870
set-out1875
hoodoo1876
tingle-tangle1880
shemozzle1885
take-on1893
dust-up1897
hoo-ha1931
tra-la-la1933
gefuffle1943
tzimmes1945
kerfuffle1946
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > sound of instruments > [noun] > sound of bell > number of bells together
reela1450
pealingc1475
peal1513
tingle-tanglea1635
clamming1684
clam1702
firing1788
a1450 Castle Perseverance (1969) l. 1828 I schape þese schrewys to mekyl schame; Iche rappyth on oþyr wyth rowtynge rele.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) 50987 With scharp swordis..Tha maid ane reill..And dang thame doun.
1573 J. Davidson Breif Commendatioun Vprichtnes xli. 101 He said thair suld not mis ane reill That suld the cheifest walkin vp.
a1586 Ces, Hart in W. A. Craigie Maitland Folio MS. (1919) I. clxxix. 444 This reill this raige this crewiell weir Thocht it a quhyll do the molest.
a1600 (?c1535) tr. H. Boece Hist. Scotl. (Mar Lodge) (1946) 62 And to haue the gilde and reill of the pepill mytigate..depute to him keparis of newe.
1706 Mare of Collingtoun in J. Watson Choice Coll. Scots Poems i. 55 If they had had any Feel, That I had made them such a Reel.
1724 A. Ramsay Vision in Ever Green I. iii To rare with rackless reil.
1813 E. Picken Misc. Poems II. 135 He pou'd at the bell, an it gae sic a reel.
1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms frae Hebrew xxix. 7 (margin) Atween bleezes o' light comes a reel o' thunner.
1904 Eng. Dial. Dict. V. 79/1 Save's siccan a reel.
1999 J. J. Graham Shetland Dict. (ed. 2) Reel, a commotion.
2. A whirling or spinning motion; (also) an act or example of reeling or staggering. Now chiefly in drunken reel. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > revolution or rotation > [noun] > whirling > an act of
whirl?a1505
reel?1572
swinge1583
whirligig1589
wirble1848
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > unsteady movement > [noun] > reeling or staggering > a reeling or staggering movement
reel?1572
stagger1600
wintle1786
stacker1870
?1572 R. Sempill Premonitioun Barnis of Leith (single sheet) Fortoun with a Reill Hes wrocht thame ane vnabill charr..With turning of hir Quheill.
c1600 A. Montgomerie Poems (2000) I. 16 Quhen with a quhisk sho quhirlis about hir quheill Rude is that rattill running with a reill.
1642 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici i. 7 Those unstable judgements..cannot consist in the narrow point and centre of justice, without a reele or stagger to the circumference.
1678 V. Alsop Melius Inquirendum ii. v. 239 They ran from Superstition, to Prophaness; the common Reel of those who to avoid one extream, run into the opposite.
1851 N. Hawthorne House of Seven Gables xvi. 258 To steady herself from the reel and vibration which affected her more immediate sphere.
1878 R. Browning Poets Croisic clvii The drunken reel Of vice and folly round him.
1938 San Antonio (Texas) Light 8 Nov. b4/5 The stagger of a midnight brawler first put Dr. Wiener on the road to the discovery that chaos really existed, for, according to him, a drunken reel had no apparent relation to the previous or next drunken reel.
1961 Florence (S. Carolina) Morning News 26 Nov. a4/2 One toy is a ‘jovial bartender’...This alleged toy is complete with cocktail shaker, martini glass, drunken reel and whiskey-red complexion.
2007 San Antonio (Texas) Express-News (Nexis) 10 May 4 f Pirates were hot in pop culture long before Johnny Depp slathered on eyeliner and perfected his drunken reel.
†3. Scottish. A rapid and careless action. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
1573 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlii. 536 Sic Preichouris..That thinkis thame selfis dischargit weill, Quhen they haue run ouir with ane reill Thair sairles Sermone.
†4. In plural. Revels, revelry. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > a merrymaking or convivial occasion > merrymaking or conviviality > [noun] > noisy or riotous
riotingc1390
revelling1395
revelc1400
revelryc1410
revel-rout?1499
jetting1509
deray?a1513
company keeping1529
banqueting1535
roistingc1560
wassailinga1586
riotise1590
roister-doisterdom1592
reels1603
roaring1617
ranting1633
rattle1688
high jinks1699
roistering1805
spree1808
wassailry1814
revelment1822
Tom and Jerryism1822
spreeing1845
to be on the roister1860
riotousness1882
whoopee1928
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. iv. 10 The king doth wake to night, & takes his rowse, Keepe wassel, and the swaggering vp-spring reeles.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. vii. 89 Drinke thou: encrease the Reeles . View more context for this quotation
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

reeln.3

Brit. /riːl/, U.S. /ril/, Scottish English /ril/
Forms: 1700s– reel; Scottish pre-1700 reill, pre-1700 1700s–1800s reele, 1700s– reel.
Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Perhaps formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: reel n.2; reel v.3
Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps a transferred use of reel n.2, the dance being so called on account of its lively movements (compare earlier reel v.1), or perhaps < reel v.3 Compare also discussion at reel n.1Scottish Gaelic righil, ridhil, ruidhle, etc. are < Scots.
Originally Scottish.
1. A traditional Scottish dance typically involving four or more dancers; esp. a type of lively country dance in simple duple or quadruple time. Hence: any of various similar dances, esp. those traditional in Ireland and the United States. Also figurative and in figurative contexts.Frequently with distinguishing word, esp. specifying the origin of the dance (as Highland reel, Irish reel, etc.), or the number of dancers involved (as foursome reel, eightsome reel, etc.). Cf. Scotch reel n. at Scotch adj. and n.3 Compounds 2, Virginia reel n. at Compounds 3b.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > types of dance or dancing > country-dance or dancing > [noun] > specific country-dances > Scottish
reela1585
Strathspey reel1747
Strathspey minuet1756
strathspey1776
Strathspey dance1780
Petronella1828
strip the willow1924
sixteensome reel1926
Dashing White Sergeant1929
Gay Gordons1947
a1585 A. Montgomerie Flyting with Polwart (Tullibardine) in Poems (2000) I. 154 Bot rameist [that catell] ran reid wood and raveld þe reill.
1591 Newes fr. Scot. (Roxb.) B j b They..tooke handes..and daunced this reill or short daunce.
1606 A. Craig Amorose Songes sig. Ev Twixt Fortune, Loue, and most vnhappie mee, Behold a chase, a fatall threesome Reele.
?a1700 in W. Dauney Anc. Sc. Melodies (1838) 57 The reill of Aves, The joliest reill that ever wes.
1714 S. Centlivre Wonder v. 79 What say you, will ye Dance the Reel of Bogye with me?
1745 in R. Forbes Lyon in Mourning (1895) I. 208 He..took his share in several dances, such as minuets, Highland reels (the first reel the Prince called for was, ‘This is not mine ain house’).
1774 P. V. Fithian Jrnl. 24 June in Jrnl. & Lett. (1900) 184 She moves..without any Flirts or vulgar Capers, when She dances a Reel or Country-Dance.
1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere ii, in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 14 About, about, in reel and rout The Death-fires danc'd at night.
1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London II. ix. 207 The jolly duchess..became the patroness of reels, a lively species of dancing.
1827 W. M. Praed Poems (1865) II. 214 I danced one day an Irish reel.
1850 C. Kingsley Alton Locke I. xi. 172 I used to lie..and watched the flies dancing reels between me and the ceilings.
1884 D. Grant Lays & Legends of North 99 Resolved to shak' their heels,..In jigs and Highland reels.
1936 M. Mitchell Gone with the Wind ii. ix. 190 The dancing is about to begin and the first number will, of course, be a reel, followed by a waltz.
1950 Oxf. Junior Encycl. IX. 278/2 The chief dances performed at the [Highland] Games are the Sword Dance, the Foursome Reel, the Reel of Tulloch, the Highland Fling, and the Seann Triubhas.
1971 Country Life 23 Dec. 1790/1 Get up and take a whirl in an eightsome reel.
2006 I. Rankin Naming of Dead xxv. 377 Sweary, sweaty neds and nedettes dancing reels with college Henrys and Henriettas, cheap beer and cider spuming from shared cans.
2. A piece of music or (occasionally) a song to which such a dance may be performed; a lively dance tune in duple or quadruple time, typically characterized by repeated passages of rapid quavers.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > dance music > [noun] > folk or country dance > Scottish or Highland
reel1591
Strathspey reel1747
strathspey?1790
money musk1792
shantrews1807
1591 Newes fr. Scot. (Roxb.) B j b Geilles Duncane did goe before them, playing this reill or daunce upon a small Trumpe.
1748 W. Walsh Caledonian Country Dances I The border reel.The reel of Glames.
1786 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music Reel, a lively Scotch dance, generally written in common-time of four crotchets in a bar, but sometimes in jig-time of six quavers.
1818 B. Dun Nine Quadrilles Pref. There are two kinds of music to which the Scotch reel is danced, viz. the reel properly so called, and the strathspey.
1883 G. Grove Dict. Music III. 92/1 The Irish reel is played much faster than the Scotch.
1886 Z. F. Smith Hist. Kentucky 256 [He] began to whistle a familiar reel he was accustomed to play on the violin.
1914 J. Joyce Dubliners 128 After that Mrs Donnelly played Miss McCloud's Reel for the children.
1964 Amer. Folk Music Occas. No. 1. 61 From such a man you will hear ballads, breakdowns, reels.
1992 Folk Roots Sept. 25/2 He played reels, quadrilles and other set dance pieces popular at the time.
3. In Scottish and other folk dancing: a figure in which three or more dancers follow a figure-of-eight or similar looping course around one another.Frequently in phrases designating the number of dancers involved, as reel of three, reel of four. Cf. hay n.4 1a.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > movements or steps > [noun] > figure > figures in quadrilles and country-dances
allemande?1770
reel1804
pastourelle?1814
poussette1814
pastorale1822
ladies' chain1825
poussetting1836
tour1841
grand chain1864
first set1894
1804 T. G. Fessenden Orig. Poems 23 Fiddler, play us one tune more, Just to end with reel of four.
1862 E. L. Blanchard Cherry & Fair Star v Then for a reel of three, first set, or Lancers.
1900 Windsor Mag. May 748 In the Reel of Tulloch, after the first ‘reel’ part, a series of ‘setting’ to partners takes place.
1964 J. F. Flett & T. M. Flett Trad. Dancing in Scotl. viii. 187 The dancers being said to be ‘dancing’ when they set to each other, and to be ‘running the reel’, or, more simply, ‘reeling’, when they perform the travelling figure.
1992 Amer. Square Dance Jan. 65 With the ladies in the lead, the active dancers and the inactive dancers with whom they did the Allemande Left, dance a full 16 count Hey for Four (or Reel of Four) across the set and back.

Compounds

reel dance n. a lively dance, a reel; (also ) a piece of music to which such a dance may be performed; also figurative.
ΚΠ
a1653 Z. Boyd Battle of Newburn in Last Battle Soul (1831) p. xlvi Such was the Reele dance at that thunder crack.
1702 R. Currie in Coll. Dying Testimonies (1806) 61 Though He seem to linger, yet He is upon His journey coming, and there will be a reel-dance ere long.
1822 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 12 300 The reel dance pleased best me.
1994 Seattle Times (Nexis) 1 Apr. d32 An ensemble piece that draws on jigs and reel dances.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

reelv.1

Brit. /riːl/, U.S. /ril/
Forms: Middle English–1500s rele, late Middle English rel, late Middle English reyll (northern), late Middle English– reel, 1500s reyle, 1500s–1600s reele; Scottish pre-1700 reele, pre-1700 reile, pre-1700 reill, pre-1700 rele, pre-1700 reyll, pre-1700 1700s– reel, pre-1700 1800s reil, 1700s real, 1700s rill.
Origin: Probably formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: reel n.1
Etymology: Probably < reel n.1 Compare reel v.2, and also reel v.3
1.
a. intransitive. To whirl or wheel around; to go with a whirling or rolling motion; to spin or appear to spin.In quot. c1440 perhaps influenced by or passing into sense 3a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > revolution or rotation > revolve or rotate [verb (intransitive)] > whirl
turnOE
whirlc1384
hurlc1400
reelc1400
whirligig1687
vertiginate1814
wirble1848
c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 147 (MED) Þe bote..reled on roun vpon þe roȝe yþes.
c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 270 (MED) He glydes in by þe giles..Relande in by a rop..Ay hele ouer hed hourlande aboute.
c1425 (c1400) Laud Troy-bk. 12671 (MED) Hedes reled aboute ouer-al As men playe at the fote-bal.
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 2794 (MED) The rosselde spere to his herte rynnes: The renke relys abowte and rusches to þe erthe.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 155 The sowtaris hors start with the rattill And round about cowd reill.
1605 M. Drayton Poems sig. Cc5v Thus the world doth, and euermore shall reele.
1681 P. Rycaut tr. B. Gracián y Morales Critick 76 Nor was less ridiculous that Circle that others moved in, who winding in a continual compass..never passed forward, but reeling in a circumference, could not arrive to the Point, and Centre of Vertue.
1723 W. Meston Knight i. 71 For all Copernicus can say, He'll not believe, that every Day, The Earth can round its Axis reel, Like Whirlegig or spinning Wheel.
1785 T. Holcroft Follies of Day ii. 49 (stage direct.) Reels round to Figaro.
1813 W. Scott Bridal of Triermain iii. xxi. 162 When the whirlwind's gusts are wheeling..Zarah's sands in pillars reeling, Join the measure that we tread.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Witch of Atlas xxviii, in Posthumous Poems (1824) 38 She saw the constellations reel and dance Like fire-flies.
1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 30 It..sen's the bleed reelin' throw the hairt.
1917 E. Wharton Summer xv. 222 The whole sunlit autumn whirled, reeled and roared around her.
1992 D. G. Campbell Crystal Desert x. 205 The sky..was swarming with several thousand Antarctic and blue petrels, reeling and dipping into the sea.
b. transitive. To cause to go with a whirling or rolling motion; to turn, roll, or spin (something). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > violently
shoveOE
swengea1225
slata1250
sleata1250
dashc1290
thringa1300
hurlc1305
lashc1330
to ding downc1380
rampenc1390
dinga1400
reelc1400
rash1485
flounce1582
squat1658
ram1718
whang1820
slug1862
slam1870
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) 304 (MED) Runisch-ly his rede yȝen he reled aboute.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. v. sig. E4v Sisyphus an huge round stone did reele Against an hill.
1595 R. Barnfield Cynthia v. sig. B2 In his hand was placed Fortunes wheele: The which he often turn'd, and oft did reele.
1800 T. Moore tr. Anacreon Odes ii. 12 Our feet shall catch the elastic bound, And reel us through the dance's round.
1828 J. Wilson Noctes Ambrosianae xxxv, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Jan. 117 Reel roun' his throne, Mr. Aumrose.
1982 S. Plumpp Mojo Hands Call 65 The Black Man must muse his muscles To reel the turning turning wheel.
†c. intransitive. Of a drinking cup: to circulate; to be passed around. Obsolete. rare. Cf. reel-pot n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > providing or serving drink > [verb (intransitive)] > be circulated
reela1500
walk1563
troll-the-bowl1575
trolla1627
go1698
circle1725
circulate1882
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1897–1973) 109 (MED) Abyde, lett cop reyll.
†2. Chiefly Scottish.
a. intransitive. To rush or charge about; to behave in a wild, unruly, or violent manner; to rampage. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > behave violently or use force [verb (intransitive)] > behave with reckless or riotous violence
to make derayc1300
reelc1400
rampc1405
rammisha1540
to run amok1672
rampage1791
tevel1828
wild1989
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move swiftly in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > move swiftly and violently > rush around
scour1297
startlec1300
reelc1400
rammisha1540
gad1552
ramp1599
fling1620
to run rounda1623
rampage1791
to run around1822
to rip and tear1846
hella1864
running around like a chicken with its head cut off (also like a chicken with no head)1887
to haul ass1918
tear-arse1942
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) 2246 (MED) Here ar no renkes vs to rydde, rele as vs likez.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xii. 513 Sum of the horsis, that stekit wer, Ruschit and relit richt roydly.
a1500 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Chetham) l. 510 There myght men se mekyll on-hele, Whan that Beues be-gan to rele: Some he gaue suche a wounde, That they lay gronyng as an hound.
1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xviii. 39 Lat neuer þai Ruffians within ȝour rowmis reill.
a1586 King Hart l. 227 in W. A. Craigie Maitland Folio MS (1919) I. 261 So bewtie with hir wangarde gane to reill The greitest of thair ost scho can our ryde.
1654 A. Johnston Diary (1919) II. 306 I found the enseigne reel as a mad body at my chalmer doore, and I miskend him.
a1660 Sanny Briggs in Sempill Poems (1849) 45/8 O how he gart the jutters..both reel and rumble.
1718 A. Ramsay Christ's-kirk on Green ii. 20 His Wife did Reel, And Rampadge in her Choler.
1791 J. Learmont Poems Pastoral 23 Wi' rude Mars To reel, and get themselves made lame.
b. intransitive. To make a great noise or commotion; to knock loudly as a means of attracting attention. Also (of thunder): to peal, crash. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1725 in New Statist. Acct. Scotl. (1845) V. 263 They were digging portatos att Corsbie, and were heard realing and making a noise in the hall.
1790 J. Fisher Poems Var. Subj. 151 Sunket then at the door did reel.
1823 A. Hewit Poems 132 At last he arriv'd at the house, Whar loudly he reel'd for his deary.
1877 J. M. Neilson Poems 42 A rant o' thun'er reelin!
1894 P. H. Hunter James Inwick xix 239 An'ra Wabster's wife, wha cam reelin on the door in a dreidfu' state o' mind.
3. Of a person or (occasionally) an animal.
a. intransitive. To sway or stagger as a result of a blow, impact, etc. Frequently with back, backward.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > unsteady movement > move unsteadily [verb (intransitive)] > reel, stagger, or sway unsteadily > as the result of a blow
rokec1440
reela1470
stagger1547
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 323 Eythir gaff othir suche two buffettys..that they rel bothe two stredys.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) viii. 196 He made bothe the man and the horse to rele sore.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1897–1973) 104 (MED) I shall the hytt on thi pate; lo, shall thou reyll.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. xlixv When they saw the Almayne rele & staggar, then they let fall the rayle betwene them.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. v. sig. Q5 So sore a buff to him it lent, That made him reele.
1663 T. Jordan New Droll sig. B2 Instead of Weapons made of Steel, The Captain took a salted Eele, and at each blow made Ellis reel.
1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews ix Joseph..did with his left Hand so chuck him under the Chin that he reeled.
1761 F. Sheridan Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph II. 353 The Major, reeling a few steps, fell against one of the pillars of the bed.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas II. vi. i. 436 [He] reeled two steps backward, just as if some one had given him a blow in the bread-basket.
1856 Ld. Tennyson Charge Light Brigade (rev. ed.) iv, in Maud & Other Poems (new ed.) 163 Cossack and Russian Reel'd from the sabre-stroke Shatter'd and sunder'd.
1893 S. Crane Maggie ii. 14 The little girl reeled and, recovering herself, burst into tears.
1917 E. R. Burroughs Princess of Mars vi. 58 As I lightly sidestepped, after delivering the second blow, he reeled and fell upon the floor doubled up with pain.
1984 R. Dahl Boy 157 The great man reeled back in his chair as though I had slapped him in the face with a plate of poached eggs.
2001 Daily Star (Nexis) 22 Feb. 19 As one thug swung a punch, she ducked and hit back with a straight-armed fist to the stomach. He reeled.
b. intransitive. To sway unsteadily from side to side, as if about to overbalance or collapse; to totter or sway as from the effects of intoxication, faintness, exhaustion, carrying a heavy weight, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > unsteady movement > move unsteadily [verb (intransitive)] > reel, stagger, or sway unsteadily
stackera1300
welt13..
waggera1382
swaver?a1400
blundc1400
swab14..
swabble14..
gogglec1460
reel1477
galay1489
stagger1530
swag1530
stag1561
wheel1832
swig1833
wavel1896
1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 8 The dronkardes that went relyng on all sydes in the feldes.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 684/1 It is a goodly syght to se you rele on this facyon lyke a dronken man.
1582 S. Batman Vppon Bartholome, De Proprietatibus Rerum vii. lxix. 115 b It maketh the hound to reyle and stagger, as hee were dronken.
1607 M. Drayton Legend Cromwel 12 With faintnes she began to reele.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 75 A common souldier..rising from among the dead bodies, and reeling with his wounds.
1687 T. Brown Saints in Uproar in Wks. (1707) I. 117 How many Gallons have you guzzled for your Morning's-draught, that you reel and stagger so?
1728 A. Pope Dunciad iii. 377 The sons of Isis reel! The towns-mens sport.
1813 W. Scott Bridal of Triermain ii. x. 68 Reeling from the desperate race, He stood exhausted, still.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake I. ii. 89 He..saw the huge carcase bend, reel, roll over slowly to one side, dead.
1928 Times 14 Jan. 14/3 Several of them [sc. pigs] were reeling from sheer weakness and exhaustion.
1939 Nevada State Jrnl. 16 June 8/1 She denied..that she ever appeared drunk and reeling at the broadcasting studios where he worked.
1991 German Q. 64 460/2 The novel portrays the agony of the cyclists in naturalistic terms: reeling from exhaustion, pushing their bicycles through mud, vomiting after victory.
†c. transitive. To cause to stagger or recoil. Obsolete. rare.figurative in quot.
ΚΠ
1613 J. Davies Muses-teares B 2 b Our Hopes, Which now this Blast doth reele, and backward beare!
†4. intransitive. Of an army, rank, line of battle, etc.: to waver, give way, draw back. Also (occasionally) transitive: to cause to draw back or retreat. Obsolete (rare in later use).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defeat > be defeated [verb (intransitive)] > waver
fremishc1425
reela1470
shake1489
stagger1544
result1587
shog1644
waver1831
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 221 Than the Romaynes reled a lytyl, for they were somwhat rebuked.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) viii. 328 The king..saw thame reland to and fra.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid ii. vii. 130 With the preis we war relet of that steid.
a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1846) I. 212 Whill that everie man laubouris to draw from the north, whense the danger appeired, thei begyne to reyll.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iv. i. 81 Great belly'd women..would shake the prease And make 'em reele before 'em. View more context for this quotation
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles vi. xxix. 262 De Argentine..Renews the ranks where they have reel'd, And still makes good the line.
5. In extended use.
a. intransitive. Of a person, group, etc.: to be emotionally or psychologically shaken by an event, experience, etc.; to feel disorientated, bewildered, overwhelmed, or intoxicated as a result of an occurrence, a powerful emotion, etc. Also, of a country, institution, etc.: to be in a state of disorder or instability as a result of some event or situation.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > [verb (intransitive)] > be affected by emotion
amove?c1335
reelc1475
thrill1598
trinkle1644
tressilate1889
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > feel wonder, be amazed [verb (intransitive)] > be stupefied
stonya1382
stoynea1464
reelc1475
amaze1589
the mind > emotion > fear > physical symptoms of fear > exhibit physical symptoms [verb (intransitive)] > reel
reel1796
c1475 (c1445) R. Pecock Donet (1921) 213 (MED) Lest he make his meditacioun startlyng, heedling, tumbling or reeling, and þerbi bryng not forþ þe ful availe of good affecciouns.
1563 L. Humphrey Nobles or of Nobilitye sig. hi Such therfore as are dronken and reele with the meathe of new honours.
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 162 They are..swelled with pride,..and even reeling with Sedition.
1726 Visct. Bolingbroke Lett. Study Hist. viii, in Wks. (1754) II. 448 [France] went on indeed, but she staggered and reeled under the burden of the war.
1796 S. T. Coleridge Ode Departing Year 13 Yet still I gasp'd and reel'd with dread.
1848 Times 12 Apr. 2/6 Ireland was reeling under the effects of two years of famine.
1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakfast-table vii. 178 We are hustled into maturity reeling with our passions and imaginations.
a1894 R. L. Stevenson In South Seas (1896) iii. vi. 279 The matter with the man, I think, was the greatness of the opportunity; he reeled under his good fortune.
1922 Times 9 Oct. 13/7 The horrors of the Great War are still fresh in our minds, and the nation is reeling under the burden of debt.
1953 P. Gallico Foolish Immortals iv. 27 He was reeling under the impact of her presence.
1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 13 Feb. b1/2 At the end of last year, the fish industry in Newfoundland was reeling from the effects of the extremely soft U.S. market.
1996 P. Gregory Perfectly Correct (1997) 25 Naomi suddenly favoured the young woman,..lent her books, cooked her meals, and then with equal suddenness sent her, reeling with delight and totally unmanageable, home to Josie.
†b. intransitive. To waver; to recoil or draw away from (a state, condition, course of action, belief, etc.). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > be in adversity [verb (intransitive)] > fall from prosperous or thriving condition
afalleOE
wanec1000
fallOE
ebba1420
to go backward?a1425
to go down?1440
decay1483
sink?a1513
delapsea1530
reel1529
decline1530
to go backwards1562
rue1576
droop1577
ruina1600
set1607
lapse1641
to lose ground1647
to go to pigs and whistles1794
to come (also go) down in the world1819
to peg out1852
to lose hold, one's balance1877
to go under1879
toboggan1887
slip1930
to turn down1936
1529 T. More Supplyc. Soulys ii. f. xxxviii Yet sayed he therwith one thyng or twayne, that coud not stande therwyth: and therby may ye se that he began to reele.
1575 tr. J. D'Albin de Valsergues Notable Disc. xxviii. f. 65 We shoulde not permit the noyse of youre reformed Gospell that soundeth so shrill, to make vs reele from our auncient fayth.
1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Eng. 205/2 in Chron. I The Kingdome of Britayne began now to reele from their owne estate, and leane to an alteration.
1629 J. Ford Lovers Melancholy i. 8 When Common-wealths Totter and reele from that nobilitie And ancient vertue, which renownes the great.
a1638 J. Mede Wks. (1672) i. xxxiii. 168 This seems to be that wavering in prayer S. Iames speaks of, when he bids us pray in faith without wavering..that is, without reeling from God to rest upon second means.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 20 To stand fast, As long as Monarchy should last. But when the State should hap to reel [etc.].
6. intransitive. Of material things: to shake, rock, or swing violently; to totter, tremble. Also figurative.In quot. 1648: to become unsteady.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > changeableness > be changeable [verb (intransitive)]
fleetc1374
reel1495
flight1568
brandle1606
flash1608
revarya1618
adjust1898
to bob and weave1975
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > unsteady movement > move unsteadily [verb (intransitive)] > reel, stagger, or sway unsteadily > specifically of things
reel1495
stagger1530
swag1611
1495 [implied in: Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) v. xx. sig. hvv/1 The passyons of ye teeth ben dyuers..brekynge & brusynge..relynge..& fallynge & watrynge. (at reeling n.1)].
a1591 H. Smith 6 Serm. (1594) 89 The water vnder him tossing, the ship about him reeling.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. i. 109 I will make my very house reele to night. View more context for this quotation
1648 G. Markham Country Housew. Garden iii. x Stakes rot and reel, Rain and Weather eat your hives and covers.
1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 335 The vessel reeling quite down on one side..was immediately filled with water.
c1720 Ship in a Storm x The faithless Flood forsook her Keel,..Stun'd she forgot awhile to reel.
1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. i. 651 All around The Sov'reign's..head his curls Ambrosial shook, and the huge mountain reeled.
1818 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Canto IV lxiii. 34 An earthquake reel'd unheededly away! None felt stern Nature rocking at his feet.
1864 Ld. Tennyson Voyage 15 So quick the run, We felt the good ship shake and reel.
1868 A. P. Stanley Hist. Mem. Westm. Abbey iv. 341 When Church and State were reeling to their foundations.
1882 Cent. Mag. Feb. 535/1 Their houses are of wood, and brick, and stone, not designed to reel in earthquakes.
1943 Amer. Speech 18 259 The local writer of the Gold Hill News was in a tall frame building that so reeled and rocked that he feared all would be blown away.
1959 Jrnl. Warburg & Courtauld Inst. 23 342 Against a flaming background, the ship reels in the oncoming storm.
2004 USA Today (Nexis) 17 Sept. 1 a The wind blew off the screen door. Then the house started shaking, reeling and rocking.
7.
a. intransitive. Of the eyes: to roll or whirl with dizziness, excitement, surprise, etc. Chiefly Scottish in early use. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid iii. Prol. 35 Few knawis all thir coistis sa fer hence; To pike them wp perchance ȝour eene suld reill.
1591 King James VI & I Lepanto in Poet. Exercises sig. Kv The glistring cleare of shining Sunne Made both the Hosts so glaunce, As fishes eyes did reele to see.
1641 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1617 Ye saw never grein cheiss but your eyn reild.
1658 R. Moray Lett. f. 219 I be sitting at the cheek of a furnace that will gar your eyn reel when you see it.
1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle II. lxiii. 202 His own eyes began to reel in the sockets.
1835 E. Bulwer-Lytton Rienzi I. i. iv. 74 His eyes began to wink and reel beneath the glare of the tossing torches.
1865 J. B. L. Warren Stud. in Verse 7 302 I raised my reeling blinded eyes, Against the mocking clouds my hands I spread.
1998 Sunset (Nexis) Feb. 18 Now, on a morning so brilliant the eye reels against the assault of blue sky and orange sandstone.
b. intransitive. Of the mind, senses, thoughts, etc.: to be in a whirl, to spin; to be or become giddy or confused.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > be or become excited [verb (intransitive)] > become dizzy with excitement (of the mind or head)
reel1579
to run round1580
swim1702
spin1819
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > vertigo > have vertigo [verb (intransitive)]
turnOE
swimblea1400
whirl1561
wheel1593
whim1700
reel1701
swim1702
swirl1818
spin1819
giddy1845
1579 Poore Knight his Pallace sig. Kiiv I drunke so much, it caused my head to reele.
1602 J. Marston Hist. Antonio & Mellida v. sig. I3 Did his hand shake, or his eye looke dull,His thoughts reele, fearefull when he struck the stroke?
1640 R. Howard Sacred Poem 55 Ah man what art thou? whose (tho God-like) mind Yet reeles, and waues, with euery litle wind.
1701 tr. N. Andry Acct. Breeding Worms in Human Bodies 230 The Brain is attack'd by Vertigo's, the Head reels.
1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess 117 Your glancing eyn will mak their heads to reel.
a1796 R. Burns O Leave Novels in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum (1803) VI. 592 Your fine Tom Jones And Grandisons, They make your youthful fancies reel.
1837 Ld. Tennyson Oh! that 'twere Possible in Ld. Northampton Tribute 245 When all my spirit reels At the shouts.
1881 W. Besant & J. Rice Chaplain of Fleet I. xii. 261 My head reels, doctor.
1916 J. Joyce Portrait of Artist iii. 152 That eon of time the mere thought of which makes our very brain reel dizzily.
1974 B. Bainbridge Bottle Factory Outing (1975) i. 8 The men in the factory, senses reeling at the thought of a day in the country with the English ladies, had sent their Sunday suits to the cleaners.
1994 Chat 5 Feb. 54/1 Her mind reeled with the possibility of so much money. For 12 years she'd been scraping by.
c. intransitive. Of an object or image: to have, or seem to have, a rapid quivering motion; to shimmer. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > vibration > vibrate [verb (intransitive)] > tremble or quiver
shiverc1250
tremble1303
lillec1400
tryllec1400
quaver?a1439
didderc1440
dadderc1450
whitherc1450
bever1470
dindle1470
brawl1489
quiver1490
quitter1513
flichter1528
warble1549
palsy1582
quoba1586
twitter1629
dither1649
verberate1652
quibble1721
dandera1724
tremulate1749
vibrate1757
dingle1787
nidge1803
tirl1825
reel1847
shudder1849
tremor1921
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess vii. 160 All the rich to come Reels, as the golden Autumn woodland reels Athwart the smoke of burning flowers.
1853 W. C. Bryant Poems (new ed.) 167 The silent hills and forest-tops seem reeling in the heat.
1913 D. H. Lawrence Sons & Lovers i. 23 The tall white lilies were reeling in the moonlight.
8.
a. intransitive. To walk with a swaying movement of the body and unsteady steps; to move in an unsteady or uncontrolled manner, especially as a result of intoxication; to stagger or weave from side to side. Usually with adverbial complement. Also figurative. Cf. sense 3b.In quot. 1890 transitive (reflexive).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > unsteadily
wiggle?c1225
walter1399
falterc1400
stammerc1400
dotterc1475
stavera1500
stumblea1500
reel1529
scamblec1571
halper1596
totter1602
folder1607
wamble1611
to make a Virginia fence1671
wandle1686
fribble1709
rock1718
stoit1719
stoiter1724
swagger1724
doddle1761
stotter1781
toit1786
doiter1793
stot1801
dodder1819
twaddle1823
teeter1844
shoggle1884
welter1884
warple1887
whemmel1895
1529 T. More Supplyc. Soulys ii. f. xxxviii He coulde neyther stand nor reele but fell downe sow dronk in the myre.
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. ii. 3 Darkenes like a drunkard reeles, From forth daies path. View more context for this quotation
1601 J. Marston et al. Iacke Drums Entertainm. iii. sig. Ev Ile reele along with you, if youle not swagger.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 291 Drunkards reeling along the shore.
1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine iv. vii. 138 Shunning open profaneness, they reeled into spirituall pride.
1672 W. Wycherley Love in Wood v. ii No Burgundy man or drunken Scourer will reel my way.
a1704 T. Brown Oration in Praise Drunkenness in Wks. (1707) I. i. 47 Epicurus, whose Drunken Atoms Reel'd into Order.
a1731 G. Waldron Descr. Isle of Man 119 in Compl. Wks. (1731) Being unable to reel any farther, he lay down at the Door.
1797 M. Robinson Walsingham II. xlv. 300 ‘Fly Walsingham;—save yourself—for I am murdered’. I reeled down the stairs... I rushed out of the house.
1820 P. B. Shelley Prometheus Unbound ii. iv. 83 Each one reels Under the load towards the pit of death.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Peter Bell III iii, in Poet. Wks. (?1840) 240/1 Those patriots..Who gorge before they reel to bed.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 633 Permitting them to sleep on watch, to reel drunk about the streets.
1890 W. C. Russell Ocean Trag. I. ix. 191 He..swung, or rather reeled, himself into [a chair].
1904 J. London Sea-wolf x. 96 By evening, strong man that he was, he was half-blind and reeling about the cabin.
a1953 D. Thomas Under Milk Wood (1954) 33 In you reeled, my boy, as drunk as a deacon.
1994 L. A. Graf Firestorm xxv. 246 Spock nodded and reeled back down the shuttle's central aisle.
†b. transitive. To stagger drunkenly through or along (a street). Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk upon or tread [verb (transitive)] > walk unsteadily along
reela1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) i. iv. 20 To sit And keepe the turne of Tipling with a Slaue, To reele the streets at noone. View more context for this quotation
9. intransitive. Of the feet, footsteps, etc.: to falter, to become unsteady. Now rare.
ΚΠ
?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter xciii. 266 But when I sayd: my foote doth reele, to note the worldes disdayne: Then helpe O Lord: thou didst me deale, thy grace dyd me sustayne.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. viii. sig. G8v Whiles yet his feeble feet for faintnesse reeld.
1625 A. Garden Characters & Ess. 54 His Feete doe reele, his Tongue at Randon runnes.
a1704 T. Brown tr. Beroaldus Declam. in Def. Gaming in 3rd Vol. Wks. (1708) i. 134 In Drunkenness we find a Vertigo of the Brain, all things turn round, the Head swims, the House whirls about, and the Feet reel.
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna x. viii. 216 His footsteps reel On the fresh blood.
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxviii. 303 The sexton's brain whirled round with the rapidity of the motion he beheld, and his legs reeled beneath him.
1858 C. Kingsley Poems 62 Knees which reel as marches quicken.
1919 J. Masefield Reynard the Fox 159 His feet were reeling, his brush was thick From dragging the mud, and his brain was sick.
10.
a. intransitive. To fall down rapidly, esp. with a rolling motion. Frequently with down, downward.
ΚΠ
1568 T. Drant tr. Gregory of Nazianzus Epigr. & Sentences sig. Evii The light conuayes it selfe I morne, nor can it perfit fele, No more then leuen I knowe Which downe from heauen doth headlong reele.
?1606 M. Drayton Eglog viii, in Poemes sig. F 7 From whose hy top the hy soon'st downward reel.
1727 C. Povey Advice Freeholders Great Brit. 12 The People thought the Cathedrals and Temples were reeling down, when no Finger touch'd them, or Eye envy'd their Prosperity.
1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto I cxxiv. 65 The showering grapes In Bacchanal profusion reel to earth, Purple and gushing.
1888 J. M. Barrie Auld Licht Idylls ii Blobs of water grew on the panes of glass to reel heavily down them.
1926 Publ. Mod. Lang. Assoc. Amer. 41 164 Reeling down out of the air, she plunges into a black cave to weep undisturbed over her existence.
1987 D. Hall Seasons at Eagle Pond iv. 71 Then by the hundreds the leaves reeling down, making the air solid with swirling leaf-confetti.
b. intransitive. To move or travel rapidly and unsteadily; to hurtle, esp. with a rolling or whirling movement. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move swiftly in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > irregularly or unsteadily
reelc1586
shimmy1969
c1586 J. Stewart Poems (1913) 43 The nocturne beams..ay reilling throch the glansing sky.
1700 Hobson's Choice 5 His Planet governs with a Liberal force, And unrestrain'd, abides no stated Course, But freely all about the Sky it reels, As he below its merry Influence feels.
1727 J. Thomson Summer 21 All th' extinguish'd Stars, would, loosening, reel, Wide, from their Spheres.
1860 J. G. Holland Miss Gilbert's Career iv. 73 He..watched the little gig as it reeled off toward the mill at the highest speed.
1878 R. Browning Poets Croisic ii Redly up and out and off they reeled Like disconcerted imps, those thousand sparks.
1928 D. H. Lawrence Lady Chatterley's Lover xiii. 226 The chair gave a sort of scurry, reeled on a few more yards, and came to her end amid a..patch of bluebells.
1941 L. Brackett Retreat to Stars in Astonishing Stories Nov. 45/1 Ralph's heat-ray raked out. The fighter, hulled, reeled away as her men died in the vacuum.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

reelv.2

Brit. /riːl/, U.S. /ril/
Forms: Middle English rely (west midlands), Middle English reole (west midlands), Middle English–1500s rele, late Middle English–1600s reele, 1600s– reel, 1700s rel (English regional (Yorkshire)); also Scottish pre-1700 reill.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: reel n.1
Etymology: < reel n.1 Compare reel v.1
1.
†a. intransitive. To wind thread, yarn, etc., on to a reel as part of the process of production; to engage in this activity. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture of thread or yarn > [verb (intransitive)] > wind
reelc1400
spool1603
to wind up1631
quill1825
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture of thread or yarn > [verb (intransitive)] > wind > silk
reelc1400
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture of thread or yarn > [verb (transitive)] > wind > in specific way
reelc1400
conglomerate1623
spool1623
sleavea1628
agglomerate1658
skein1775
hank1818
pirn1818
lease1884
cross-reel1890
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. x. 81 Boþe to karde and to kembe..To rubbe and to rely [v.rr. rele, reole].
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 429 Relyn, wythe a reele, alabriso.
?a1500 (a1475) Wright's Chaste Wife (1869) l. 349 Thowe schalt rubbe, rele, and spynne.
1630 P. Massinger Picture sig. L4 The other to reele well For his time.
b. transitive. To wind (thread, yarn, etc.) on to a reel as part of the process of production. Hence: to wind (any flexible material) on to a reel or similar device.
ΚΠ
1550 W. Thomas Dictionarie sig. Q.iii, in Principal Rules Ital. Grammer Innaspare, to reele, as they reele sylke, or threede.
1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus ii. f. 29v Ilk ane [had] in hand ane Reill..To reill thair hankis so small of reid gold wyir.
1630 P. Massinger Picture sig. L You should reele well What he spins if you giue your mind to it.
1641 R. Baillie Let. 4 May (1841) I. 334 Proclamations were read, dischargeing to sell any yarne but reeled in such a fashion.
1732 Acc. Workhouses 138 That fit persons be appointed to reel the work.
1789 Gentleman's Mag. Suppl. 1200/2 He invented a machine to spin and reel Cotton at one operation.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 387 If the yarn has to be packed for the market, it is reeled upon a frame.
1854 L. Lloyd Scandinavian Adv. I. 194 The line..is reeled around the two pins in the handle.
1886 Mag. of Art Dec. 46/1 The silk used was..the same as that reeled at the present time by the Indians, Chinese, and Japanese.
1911 Encycl. Brit. XXV. 102/1 When a large number of cocoons are to be combined into one strand they may be reeled from the tray in four sets.
1962 G. A. T. Burdett Automatic Control Handbk. ix. 54 When metal strip is being wound or reeled it is usual to form loops in the feed line.
1992 Artist's & Illustrator's Mag. Oct. 39/1 The finished paper is reeled, and a sample from each batch undergoes quality control tests.
†c. transitive. Chiefly Scottish. To wind or unwind thread from (a spool); to fill (a spool) with thread or yarn. Obsolete.In quot. 1718 in figurative context: see pirn n.1 Phrases 1.
ΚΠ
1718 A. Ramsay Christ's-kirk on Green iii. 28 I'se wind ye a Pirn, To reel some Day.
1774 C. Keith Farmer's Ha' vii The auld gudewife the pirney reels Wi' tenty hand.
1899 J. Colville Sc. Vernacular 9 Plied the shuttle and reeled the pirns.
d. transitive. Chiefly with in, up. To draw in or gather up (a rope, fishing line, etc.) by, or as if by, winding it on a reel.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [verb (transitive)] > wind line
reel1835
the world > movement > impelling or driving > pushing and pulling > push and pull [verb (transitive)] > pull > as with a reel
reel1978
1785 F. O'Gallagher Ess. First Princ. Nature: Pt. II xi. iii. 277 If the spider..could again reel up the numberless threads he had thus emitted.
1835 Analyst 1 242 I began to reel in my line, intending to give up the sport with the usual consolation of fishermen—that there was something in the air, and the fish would not bite.
1857 Liverpool Mercury 30 Nov. 6/1 After it [sc. a sounding lead] had been hove and the line reeled up by Rodriguez, he was taking the lead reel across the quarter-deck to its place.
1884 G. F. Braithwaite Salmonidæ Westmorland v. 21 The angler reels up his line as quickly as possible.
1929 Times 29 Oct. p. xxii./3 The paper is then reeled up and may receive another application of coating.
1978 Sci. Amer. Feb. 158/2 To bring the kite down you probably will reel in the kite line.
2004 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 5 Aug. d4/1 Some hose keepers stand high, others lie low, and still others have devices that reel in the hose while the gardener watches.
e. intransitive. Chiefly with in, up. To wind or rewind a fishing line on to its reel.
ΚΠ
1853 Abstr. Papers Royal Soc. 1850–54 6 276 Whilst carefully reeling in, the line broke at 140 fathoms below the water-line.
1873 G. C. Davies Mountain, Meadow & Mere ii. 10 We reel up and seek the shelter of the wood.
1883 Cent. Mag. July 381/2 Then he reeled slowly, keeping the minnow near the surface.
1926 Times 24 May 13/5 I backed slowly without reeling in to get him upstream.
1954 J. Walker Pardon My Parka iv. 61 You cast as far as you can and then reel in slowly. That's the way to catch pickerel.
1991 Fly Rod & Reel Mar. 31/3 I clipped off my bedraggled fly and stuck it on my fleece patch, then reeled up and had a seat.
2. With off or out.
a. transitive. To take off by winding; to unwind or pay out (yarn, a fishing line, etc.) from, or as if from, a reel. Also occasionally intransitive. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture of thread or yarn > [verb (transitive)] > wind > in specific way > unwind
reel1530
unwind1882
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 684/1 Rele this skayne of the blades and than come dyne.
1753 J. Hanway Hist. Acct. Brit. Trade Caspian Sea II. iv. 18 A moss, which is about 60 inches in the round, can be most conveniently reeled off.
1756 Gentleman's Mag. 26 138 The sixth book describes the manner of reeling off the silk from the pod.
1789 Trans. Soc. Arts (ed. 2) 2 164 I reeled off every single thread.
1834 T. Medwin Angler in Wales I. 91 I have a monster now. He has reeled out two-thirds of my line, and seems as fresh as ever.
1855 R. Browning Childe Roland xxiv That harrow fit to reel Men's bodies out like silk.
1860 A. B. Street Woods & Waters 186 He reels in and reels out, keeping the fish ‘taut up to the rein’.
1911 Encycl. Brit. XXV. 102/1 The cocoons are transferred to a basin or tray containing water..in which they float while the silk is being reeled off.
1936 Times 1 Dec. 16/2 The new hose lorry of the Fire Brigade..can reel out one and a half miles of hose at a speed of 15 miles an hour.
1997 B. MacLaverty Grace Notes (1998) 22 She went into the bathroom and reeled off several sheets of pink toilet roll.
b. In extended use.
(a) transitive. To repeat or recite (words, facts, items in a list, etc.) swiftly and without hesitation or difficulty.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > record > list > [verb (transitive)]
telleOE
reckonc1175
titlea1325
reckonc1400
entitlec1430
recitea1475
recount1481
perusea1535
capitulate1566
recense1583
catalogue1598
item1601
renumerate1605
list1614
enumeratea1649
recenseate1657
cataloguize1820
to run down ——1833
reel1835
to call off1846
itemize1864
enumer1936
1835 Microcosm 1 148 He who utters without this inward force, who reels off to us words..he shows us, at once, that no study will give us an insight into his meaning—for meaning there is none, in his words.
1885 Pall Mall Budget 19 June 31/1 General Butler..can reel off nautical stories by the yard.
1890 J. H. McCarthy Fr. Revol. I. 118 He reeled off a world of insipid verses.
1928 Granta 30 Nov. 172/2 Milton just reeled out bits about Christmas when he was up here.
1969 It 4 July 14/1 Mick was a bit fed up with having to reel out witty and intelligent quips for the voracious appetites of the human media.
1997 A. Sivanandan When Memory Dies i. iii. 39 ‘There were others, too.’ S.W. reeled off yet more names.
(b) transitive. To accomplish or complete (something) swiftly or without hesitation or effort.Chiefly with reference to repeated or successive actions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > do, deal with, acquire, etc., quickly [verb (transitive)]
deliverc1400
expedite1471
dispatchc1515
jumpa1616
to make wash-work with1637
rattlea1766
to knock off1817
rustle1844
reel1870
zip1891
rush1893
fast forward1982
1870 ‘M. Twain’ in Galaxy Dec. 883/2 The hands [of my watch] would straightway begin to spin round and round... She would reel off the next twenty-four hours in six or seven minutes.
1912 Times 26 June 16/2 Without doing anything extraordinary he reeled off hole after hole in the most perfect manner.
1972 J. Mosedale Football iv. 50 The Rams became the most exciting team in football, reeling off six straight victories.
2004 Africa News (Nexis) 15 July With golden oldies as well as some latest tracks, the mentor is expected to reel out a memorable performance.
2007 Belfast Tel. (Nexis) 22 Feb. 34 The hosts, meanwhile, are hoping to reel off a fourth successive victory in the fixture.
(c) transitive. To cover (a distance) rapidly and easily.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move or cause to move swiftly in specific manner [verb (transitive)] > move swiftly and easily over
reel1872
1872 ‘M. Twain’ Roughing It iv. 46 We reeled off ten or twelve miles.
1898 Pall Mall Gaz. 14 Oct. 9/1 Hurst..reeled off mile after mile with machine-like regularity.
1961 Trains Illustr. Nov. 685/2 The 11 miles between posts 137 and 148 were reeled off at an average of 93.8 m.p.h.
1988 D. Aagesen Diary 26 Oct. in Christian Sci. Monitor (Nexis) 15 July (1991) 16 We had hoped to reel off many miles before the 90-degree heat of the midday sun.
2007 Geelong Advertiser (Nexis) 20 Jan. m24 It's..a smooth, willing powerplant with..the ability to reel off the miles with ease in country driving.
c. intransitive. Of a line, rope, etc.: to uncoil from a reel; to become unwound.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > coil > uncoiling or unwinding > become uncoiled or unwound [verb (intransitive)]
uncurl1594
outwind1596
ravel1603
unravel1643
unwind1656
unreel1749
to wind off1760
unwrap1833
uncoil1854
reel1906
1906 J. Fox Knight of Cumberland iv. 62 The line reeled out some fifty feet and began to coil on the surface of the water.
1975 Daily Tel. 11 Sept. 3/7 Three cases of seat belts reeling out with no load being taken by the belt until all the webbing was off the reel.
2005 C. P. Swain Upon that Fish 134 There's a wooden bucket..for pouring water on the winch to cool the harpoon rope as it reeled out at great speed.
3.
a. transitive. To cause (a thing) to move by means of a reel, or as if by means of a reel; to wind or winch in, out, through, etc., using a reel; esp. to draw in (a fish) by winding up the fishing line on which it has been caught.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [verb (transitive)] > draw in fish by reeling
reel1868
walk1913
1868 F. H. Joynson Metals in Constr. 105 Wire is reeled through the zinc, into which it is forced to dip by a fork or other contrivance.
1883 Cent. Mag. July 379/2 The Professor..soon reeled the bass within a few feet.
1891 Textile Industries 12 Dec. 69 Reel the stuff well in the solution.
1894 Outing 24 228/2 The minnow is reeled nearly to the tip of the rod.
1935 Times 13 Apr. 8/4 I immediately cast again, and rose and hooked a fish. As I was reeling it in, the ghillie remarked that I had lost the dropper on the previous fish.
1975 Offshore Aug. 121/1 The test pipeline was reeled from the Chickasaw into water depths of approximately 1,000 to 1,040 feet.
1985 K. S. Robinson Martians (1999) ix. 129 Most of the gear is reeled up to Camp Three once it is carried to Camp Two.
1995 Carpworld July 80/3 When the carrier is loaded, you had better reel in your bait.
b. With in. In extended use.
(a) transitive. To pull or compel towards oneself; to drag or lure in; (also) to restrain, rein in.
ΚΠ
1880 R. Grant Confessions Frivolous Girl iv. 181 Once hook him and you are all right... You can reel him in then at your pleasure.
1916 J. W. Riley Compl. Wks. IX. 2486 The old-un..has been cuttin' up rough and mother has had to reel him in.
1986 S. Minot Monkeys i. 1 Mum grabs him by the hood, reeling him in, and zips him up with a pinch at his chin.
1998 Detroit News (Nexis) 15 Aug. d32 Some authors like to reel in readers slowly, hooking them with tasty morsels penuriously parceled out.
2003 N.Y. Times Mag. 17 Aug. 38/2 Like other high-volume books, it focuses on reeling in large numbers of ‘squares’, the industry term for gamblers who make small, uninformed bets on sentimental favorites.
(b) transitive. Sport. To catch up gradually to (a competitor in a race).
ΚΠ
1965 Times 6 July 4/1 It was the skinny form of Roseman which was still in front at 880 yards..after O'Neill had been reeled in, blowing hard, like some landed fish.
1986 Motocross Rider June 14/1 Lap by lap Geboers began to reel in the leader.
1992 Autosport 23 Apr. 24/1 Will was struggling with an engine problem and..he found Soper reeling him in by half a second a lap.
2007 Edmonton (Alberta) Jrnl. (Nexis) 28 July d5 Canada finished the final 250 metres..almost three ticks faster than the Cubans, who were reeled in and left behind by the faster Canadians.
4. intransitive. Of an animal, esp. a grasshopper warbler: to make a rapid buzzing, humming, or clicking noise like that of a reel in motion. Cf. reel n.1 4, reeling n.2 2, reeler n.1 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > [verb (intransitive)] > monotonous sound > hum
humc1420
boomc1440
sum?1440
bum1499
humble1617
spin1851
zoon1880
reel1899
1747 R. Maxwell Pract. Bee-master 35 This reeling is occasioned, by a great many of the Bees flying, and making a confused Motion and Noise in the..Hive.]
1899 Longman's Mag. Dec. 154 The grasshopper warblers which were reeling from many a ‘tangled watercourse’ a fortnight ago are now silent.
1928 Observer 19 Feb. 10/4 I once had the curiosity to time a nightjar and found that on one occasion the bird reeled continuously for twelve-and-a-half minutes.
1972 Countryman Autumn 137 The grasshopper warbler normally sings, or ‘reels’, from cover, but sometimes takes an open perch.
1993 Times 28 June 16/1 Grasshopper warblers are singing in the depths of the scrub: they are usually described as ‘reeling’, since the song is a sustained whirring, very like an angler's reel unwinding.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

reelv.3

Brit. /riːl/, U.S. /ril/, Scottish English /ril/
Forms: 1800s– reel; Scottish pre-1700 reill, pre-1700 rele, 1700s– reel.
Origin: Perhaps a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: reel v.1
Etymology: Perhaps a transferred use of reel v.1 Compare later reel n.3
Originally and chiefly Scottish.
intransitive. To dance a reel (reel n.3 1); to perform the travelling or looping figure in such a dance (cf. reel n.3 3). Also occasionally transitive with it or with specified reel as object.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > types of dance or dancing > country-dance or dancing > take part in country-dance or dancing [verb (intransitive)] > specific country-dance > Scottish
reela1522
society > leisure > dancing > types of dance or dancing > country-dance or dancing > take part in country-dance or dancing [verb (transitive)] > Scottish country-dance
reel1834
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) xiii. ix. 109 And gan do dowbill brangillys and gambatis, Dansys and rowndis traysyng mony gatis, Athir throu other reland, on thar gys.
1584 Kirkcaldy Burgh Rec. (1908) 87 That na persounis pas tyme, nor dans or reill with dansing and pypping throw the toun..the tyme of preiching.
1731 Mill, Mill-O in Musical Misc. VI. 76 Round with a Sodger reel—O.
1790 R. Burns Tam o' Shanter 147 in Poems & Songs (1968) II. 562 The dancers quick and quicker flew; They reel'd, they set, they cross'd, they cleekit.
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. xvi. 278 Troubridge opened the ball..making them reel Tom Collins, whether or no.
1843 J. Nicholson Hist. & Tradit. Tales 241 Loud laughed Old Nick and danced and reeled.
a1878 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage to Land of Burns & Poems (1892) 257 The nights we reel'd it in the ha'.
1900 J. O. Hobbes Osbern & Ursyne i. i. 2 They dance and reel, And seem to feel Spring thrilling with her soft reprieves From winter's blight.
1964 J. F. Flett & T. M. Flett Trad. Dancing in Scotl. viii. 187 The dancers are said to be..‘reeling’, when they perform the travelling figure.
1991 D. Craig King Cameron (BNC) 49 James and the Duke were standing on a rock conducting the dancers , who were reeling in eights, linking and whirling between the bonfires.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1OEn.2a1450n.3a1585v.1c1400v.2c1400v.3a1522
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