snelln.
/snɛl/, U.S. /snɛl/ U.S.
A short line of gut or horsehair by which a fish-hook is attached to a longer line.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > fishing-line > [noun] > length attaching hook in angling
snooding1815
snood1823
snell1846
1846 Spirit of Times 9 May 126/2 [The bass] was taken with a jointed rod, with a single gut snell, after half an hour's play.
1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) 238 Leader, a length of finely twisted hair, gut, or grass, for attaching an angler's hook to the line; a bottom. Called also a Snell.
1883 Cent. Mag. July 381/2 Reeling up his line to the snell of the hook.
1894 Outing 24 452/2 I..rigged the strongest leader and the heaviest snell and hook in my box.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
snelladj.adv.
/snɛl/, U.S. /snɛl/, Scottish English /snɛl/ In later use Scottish and northern.
A. adj.
1. 1720 A. Ramsay Edinb.'s Salut. to Ld. Carnarvon vi That in ilk action, wise and snell, You may shaw manly fire.1721 A. Ramsay Elegy Patie Birnie ix Jove's nimble son and leckie snell Made the first fiddle of a shell.1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess 9 Fu' o' good nature, sharp an' snell with a'.1817 Lintoun Green in R. Brown Comic Poems 91 The Smith, black, bardy, wee, and snell, Served round the nappy ale.1858 J. Brown Rab in Horæ Subsecivæ 1st Ser. 307 That horny-handed, snell, peremptory little man.1889 J. Robertson Early Relig. Israel (1892) iii. 57 Amos is a lithe, keen, snell man.absolute.OE Judith 199 Þa wearð snelra werod snude gegearewod, cenra to campe.a1250 Owl & Nightingale 526 Þanne erest hit is isene Hwar is þe snelle, hwar þe kene.† c. Const. to (with noun or infinitive). Obsolete.
a. Of persons: Quick in movement or action; prompt, smart, active, strenuous; †good.In Middle English frequently as a general epithet of commendation. In later Scottish use tending towards the sense of ‘sharp, keen’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [adjective]
goodOE
winlyOE
snella1000
winc1275
boonc1325
cleana1375
tidya1375
positivea1398
comelyc1400
kindc1400
kindly?a1425
well-formeda1425
trim?a1513
wally?a1513
bonnya1525
delicatea1533
goodlike1562
sappy1563
bein1567
rum1567
benedict1576
warrantable1581
true (also good, sure) as touch1590
goodlisomea1603
respectable1603
clever1738
amusing1753
plummy1787
bone1793
brickish1843
mooi1850
ryebuck1859
spandy1868
greatisha1871
healthy1878
popular1884
beefy1903
onkus1910
quies1919
cushty1929
high-powered1969
not shabby1975
OE Beowulf 2971 Ne meahte se snella sunu Wonredes ealdum ceorle ondslyht giofan.
a1000 Bi Monna Cræftum (Gr.) 52 Sum bið rynig,..sum on londe snel, feþespedig.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 13 Þat man be waker, and liht, and snel,.. and erliche rise.
c1250 Meid. Maregrete lv Olibrius heitte þe mai ut of prisun don; Ðe sergaunz were snelle ant broutten hire son.
a1300 Body & Soul in Map's Poems 334 Ȝwere ben thine cokes snelle, that scholden gon greithe thi mete?
1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 132 Of messengers fulle snelle he sent hider to loke.
c1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 316 The messangers were ful snelle, Hastilich the way thay nomen.
c1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) xii. 121 Byd hym with Mary abyde and dwelle, For it [is] my sone ful snelle That she is with i-wys.
b. Similarly of animals (or things). ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adjective] > prompt to act
radeOE
yevereOE
snellOE
ratheOE
spacka1200
quickc1300
eagerc1325
readyc1330
tallc1374
smartc1380
desirousc1386
rifec1390
promptc1425
speedy?1504
nimblea1547
present1548
go-ahead1825
OE Phoenix 123 Se haswa fugel beorht of þæs bearwes beame gewiteð, fareð feþrum snell flyhte on lyfte.
OE Andreas (1932) 505 On brim snoweð snel under segle.
a1250 Owl & Nightingale 918 Þu farest so doþ on yde[l] wel Þat springeþ bi burne þat is snel.
c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 4668 Mi stede þai han, þat is so snelle.
a1450 Le Morte Arth. 2234 Stedys that were bolde and snelle.
1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 100 So subtyl and snelle was the foxe, that many tymes whan the wulf wende wel to be sure of hym, he sterte thenne bytwene his legges.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 25 Thay [sc. solan geese] ar sa snell and suift of flicht.
ΚΠ
c1150 Canterb. Ps. xiii. 3 [6] Hiræ fet hræþe vel snelle to ægiotænæ vel to scedende blod.
c1275 Sinners Beware 41 in Old Eng. Misc. 73 Ne may no tunge telle..of þare pyne of helle; Þar-to we beoþ to snelle.
1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 437 Hie boldus to bulde be we not snelle.
13.. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. (1901) 558 To fleo folye be snelle.
c1400 Rowland & O. 403 To arme hym wele þay were full snelle.
2. Keen-witted, clever, sharp, acute, smart.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > sharpness, shrewdness, insight > [adjective]
sharpc888
yepec1000
spacka1200
yare-witelc1275
fellc1300
yap13..
seeinga1382
far-castinga1387
sightya1400
perceivinga1425
snellc1425
politic?a1439
quickc1449
pregnant?a1475
pert1484
quick-wittedc1525
apt1535
intelligentc1540
queemc1540
ready-witted1576
political1577
of (a) great, deep, etc., reach1579
conceited1583
perspicuous1584
sharp-witteda1586
shrewd1589
inseeing1590
conceived1596
acute1598
pregnate1598
agile1599
nimble-headed1601
insighted1602
nimble1604
nimble-witted1604
penetrant1605
penetrating1606
spraga1616
acuminous1619
discoursing1625
smart1639
penetrativea1641
sagacious1650
nasute1653
acuminate1654
blunt-sharpa1661
long-headed1665
smoky1688
rapid1693
keen1704
gash1706
snack1710
cute1731
mobile1778
wide awake1785
acuminated1786
quick-minded1789
kicky1790
snap1790
downy1803
snacky1806
unbaffleable1827
varmint1829
needle-sharp1836
nimble-brained1836
incisivea1850
spry1849
fast1850
snappy1871
hard-boiled1884
on the spot1903
c1425 Seven Sages (P.) 53 The mayster was wys and snel.
c1440 York Myst. xli. 111 Melachiell, that proffett snell, Hais tolde vs of that babb so bright.
a1450 J. Myrc Instr. to Par. Priests 121 Teche hem alle to be war and snel, That they conne sey þe wordes wel.
1719 A. Ramsay 1st Answer to Hamilton x Europe had nane mair snack and snell At verse or prose.
1861 J. Brown Horæ Subs. II. 273 He had no want..of quick, snell remark, often witty and full of spirit.
3. Severe, sharp, unsparing.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > strictness > [adjective] > severe or stern
wrothc893
retheeOE
stithc897
starkOE
sternOE
hardOE
dangerous?c1225
sharpa1340
asperc1374
austerec1384
shrewda1387
snella1400
sternful?a1400
unsterna1400
dour?a1425
piquant1521
tetrical1528
tetric1533
sorea1535
rugged?1548
severe1548
hard-handed1611
Catonian1676
tetricous1727
heavy1849
acerbic1853
stiff1856
Catonic1883
tough1905
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > severity > [adjective]
heavyc825
grimc900
strongeOE
hardeOE
drearyOE
eileOE
sweerOE
deara1000
bitterOE
tartc1000
smartOE
unridec1175
sharp?c1225
straitc1275
grievousc1290
fellc1330
shrewda1387
snella1400
unsterna1400
vilea1400
importunea1425
ungainc1425
thrallc1430
peisant1483
sore?a1513
weighty1540
heinous?1541
urgent?1542
asperous?1567
dure1567
spiny1586
searching1590
hoara1600
vengible1601
flinty1613
tugging1642
atrocious1733
uncannya1774
severe1774
stern1830
punishing1833
hefty1867
solid1916
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > harshness or severity > [adjective]
heavyc825
retheeOE
stithc897
hardeOE
starkOE
sternOE
dangerous?c1225
sharp?c1225
unsoftc1275
sturdy1297
asperc1374
austerec1384
shrewda1387
snella1400
sternful?a1400
dour?a1425
thrallc1430
piquant1521
tetrical1528
tetric1533
sorea1535
rugged?1548
severe1548
iron1574
harsh1579
strict1600
angry1650
Catonian1676
Draconic1708
tetricous1727
alkaline1789
acerbic1853
stiff1856
acerbate1869
acerbitous1870
Draconian1876
Catonic1883
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 16628 Sore þei auȝte him drede: Þe folke þat were so snelle [Vesp. fell].
1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus iv. f. 55 [To] caus Ladeis to..be haldin..Baith odious, and snell as ane serpent.
1755 R. Forbes tr. Ovid Ajax his Speech (new ed.) 17 Fa' wi' snell words him sair did snib.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary II. vi. 170 He's snell and dure aneugh in casting up their nonsense to them, as if he had nane o' his ain.
1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log II. i. 8 Conscience is a rough lad,..and I am keen and snell also.
4. Of weather; Keen, bitter, severe.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > [adjective] > severe or violent (of weather or elements)
retheeOE
strongOE
stithc1100
snella1400
woodc1400
outrage?a1425
violentc1425
sternc1449
strainable1497
rigorous1513
stalwart1528
vehement1528
sore1535
sturdy1569
robustious1632
severe1676
beating1702
shaving1789
snorting1819
wroth1852
wrathy1872
snapping1876
vicious1882
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6018 Þe seuend on-sand þat siþen fell, Was a weder ful selcut snell [Gött. fell].
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 377 Sa hard anoy thaim then assayit, Off hunger, cauld, with schowris snell.
1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid vii. Prol. 139 Chiverand for cauld, the sessoun was so snell.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 342 The snaw so snell ay dryvand with sic drift.
1677 W. Nicolson Gloss. Cumbrian Dial. in Trans. Royal Soc. Lit. (1870) 9 319 Snell, sharp, bitter.
1786 R. Burns To Mouse in Poems & Songs (1968) I. 127 Bleak December's winds ensuin, Baith snell an' keen!
1822 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 11 119 The wintry air is snell and keen.
1881 R. Buchanan God & Man III. 209 We..passed the snell season without the loss of a single soul aboard.
5.
a. Grievous, heavy, stinging; rigorous; painful.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > [adjective] > causing pain
sorec897
smartc1300
throlya1375
snella1400
dolorousc1400
painfulc1400
sensible1502
afflictive1576
doloriferous1599
exasperated1611
dolorific1634
painable1649
algetic1879
algesic1880
paining1891
the mind > emotion > suffering > mental anguish or torment > [adjective] > severe
heavya1000
tartc1000
unridec1175
unsoftc1275
uglya1300
smartc1300
sternc1300
cruelc1384
sharpc1386
shrewda1387
snella1400
painousa1450
painlyc1460
sensible1502
terrible1509
heinous?1541
severe1747
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 16638 Þai gaue him buffetes snell.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7759 O þis batail þat was sa snell, þe force a-pon þe king it fell.
14.. Sir Beues (E) 4312 + 147 In hys hand a mase ful snel, Þat was maad off good steel.
1755 A. Ramsay Epist. to J. Clerk 88 [He] gave the scarlet whore a box Mair snell than all the pelts of Knox.
1790 A. Wilson Poems 225 This is the last, the snellest lick That I'll e'er get frae fortune's stick.
1824 W. Scott Redgauntlet II. xi. 248 That was a snell law.
1879 J. White Jottings 154 Bear life's rebuffs, Tho' they're aft unco snell.
b. Sharp-tasted; pungent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective] > pungent
sharpc1000
hotc1175
poignantc1387
keen1398
angryc1400
eager?c1400
tartc1405
argutec1420
mordicative?a1425
mordificative?a1425
piperinea1425
pungitive?a1425
pikea1475
vehement1490
oversharpa1500
over-stronga1500
penetrating?1576
penetrative1578
quick1578
piercing1593
exalted1594
mordicant1603
acute1620
toothed1628
pungent1644
piquant1645
tartarous1655
mordacious1657
piperate1683
peppery1684
tartish1712
hyperoxide1816
snell1835
mordanta1845
shrill1864
piperitious1890
1835 J. D. Carrick Laird of Logan 172 That's just the mustard I mean, an gay snell mustard he is whiles.
6. Shrill, clear-sounding.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > audibility > [adjective] > clear
brightOE
clearc1300
breme1340
brisk1660
snellc1730
clear-cut1865
pellucid1952
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > [adjective]
shillOE
brightOE
shrillc1386
sharp1390
keena1400
shirl1418
piercingc1425
acute1504
shrillish1583
shrilly1594
ear-piercinga1616
sonable1623
oxytonous1653
argute1719
snellc1730
chanticleering1786
criard1840
squealing1879
shrilled1880
bird-high1920
bleaty1925
stainless steel1963
c1730 Robin Hood & Bp. of Hereford vii, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1888) III. v. 198/2 He put his horn in to his mouth, And a snell blast he did blow.
1818 G. Beattie John o' Arnha' (ed. 2) 58 Douff like drum, and snell like cymble.
B. adv.
1. Quickly, promptly, swiftly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > [adverb]
yeverlyeOE
cofeOE
snellya1000
whatlichea1000
swiftlyc1000
yernea1023
skeetc1175
swithc1175
whatec1175
lightly?c1225
tidelyc1225
fastlyc1275
swithc1275
fastc1300
quickc1300
titec1300
quicklya1325
rada1325
snellc1330
titelyc1330
swithly?1370
hastlya1375
ketlya1375
ketec1380
speedlyc1380
speedfully1398
keenlya1400
skeetlya1400
speedilya1400
swiftc1400
yederlyc1400
apacea1423
rasha1475
runninglyc1475
speedful?c1480
rackly?a1500
rashly1533
stiffly1535
roundly1548
post1549
fleet1587
fleetly1598
speedy1601
raptly1646
fastisha1650
wingedly1651
rapidly1653
rapid1677
velociously1680
express1765
quicklike1782
spankingly1803
spankily1842
fleetingly1883
quick-foot1891
on the quick-foot1894
zippily1924
c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 801 His ost him answerd snelle, ‘Of þat turnament y schal ȝou telle’.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 14946 Wat yee breþer qui..I weind again sua snell?
c1420 Chron. Vilod. 556 Hom aȝeyn he come fulle snelle.
1895 S. R. Crockett Men of Moss-hags xlvii We held fast and snell to the eastward.
2. Vigorously, strongly, keenly, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adverb]
hardlyeOE
strongeOE
hardOE
fastOE
starklyOE
stalworthlyc1175
starkc1225
mainlyc1300
fellc1330
snellc1330
stout1338
wightlya1340
sadlya1375
sharplyc1380
tough1398
stoutly1399
throa1400
wighta1400
lustilyc1400
sorec1400
vigourslyc1400
stiff1422
vigoriouslya1450
vigorouslya1450
actuallya1470
stourlyc1480
forcely?a1500
lustly1529
fricklyc1540
dingilya1555
livelily?1565
crankly1566
forcibly1578
crank1579
wightily?a1600
proudly1600
energetically1609
stiffly1623
ding-dong1628
greenly1633
hard and fast1646
slashingly1659
thwackingly1660
warmlya1684
robustly1709
sonsily1729
forcefullya1774
vim1843
zippily1924
vibrantly1926
punchily1934
zingily1951
c1330 Arth. & Merl. 1322 (Kölbing) Þe messangers bad him þo telle, Whi it was he louȝ so snelle.
a1400–50 Alexander 3995 Sire Porrus..him on þe pan strikis So snelle at he snatirs with.
c1480 (a1400) St. Placidus 519 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 84 Ȝet wes lewit hym a schele to schrape his scabbis rycht snel.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 250 He saw, As to hys sycht, dede had him swappyt snell.
1728 A. Ramsay Robert Richy & Sandy (1877) II. 5 Ae rough night the blatt'ring winds blew snell.
1773 R. Fergusson Auld Reikie 6 Antrin Fock may ken how snell Auld Reikie will at morning smell.
1884 R. Buchanan Lights of Leith i. i While the wintry gale..Blew snell thro' sail and shroud.
Derivatives
ˈsnellness n. sharpness, keenness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cold weather > [noun] > very cold weather > intensity of
bitterness971
sharpness1482
snellness1915
1915 J. Buchan Salute to Adventurers i. 15 That bold girl singing a martial ballad to the storm and taking pleasure in the snellness of the air.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
snellv.
U.S.
transitive. To tie or fasten (a hook) to a line.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > fishing-line > attach hook to a line [verb (transitive)]
snood1840
snell1891
1891 in Cent. Dict.
Derivatives
snelled adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > hook > [adjective] > tied to a line
snelled1893
1893 Outing 22 123/2 Well-made, securely wrapped, double-snelled Aberdeen..are very satisfactory hooks.
1960 Washington Post 29 Apr. d9 The somewhat cumbersome assembly of one or more spinner blades ahead of a snelled or long-shanked hook.
1976 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 28 June 2- d (advt.) Packages of 6 snelled hooks.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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n.1846
adj.adv.OEv.1891