reel

I

[[t]ril[/t]]

n.

1) a cylinder or other device that turns on an axis and is used to wind up or let out wire, rope, film, etc

2) a rotatory device attached to a fishing rod at the butt, for winding up or letting out the line

3) a quantity of something wound on a reel

4) brit. a spool of sewing thread

5) to wind on a reel

6) tex to unwind (silk filaments) from a cocoon

7) to pull by winding a line on a reel:

to reel a fish in[/ex]

8) phv reel off, to say or write fluently and quickly, as a sequence of items

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Etymology: bef. 1050; (n.) ME rele, OE hrēol, c. ON hræll weaver's rod; (v.) ME relen, der. of rele reel′a•ble, adj. II

reel

[[t]ril[/t]] v. i.

1) to sway or rock under a blow, shock, etc

2) to waver or retreat

3) pat to sway about in standing or walking, as from dizziness or intoxication; stagger

4) to turn round and round; whirl

5) to have a sensation of whirling:

His brain reeled[/ex]

6) to cause to reel

7) a reeling or staggering movement

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Etymology: 1300–50; ME relen, perh. der. of rele reel I syn: See stagger III

reel

[[t]ril[/t]] n.

1) mad a lively Scottish dance

2) mad

Virginia reel

3) mad music for a reel

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Etymology: 1575–85; orig. Scots; appar. identical with reel I or reel II