eel

eel
noun Etymology: Middle English ele, from Old English ǣl; akin to Old High German āl eel Date: before 12th century 1. a. any of numerous voracious elongate snakelike bony fishes (order Anguilliformes) that have a smooth slimy skin, lack pelvic fins, and have the median fins confluent around the tail — compare American eel b. any of numerous other elongate fishes (as of the order Synbranchiformes) 2. any of various nematodes (as the vinegar eel) • eellike adjectiveeely adjective

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Eel — Eel, n. [AS. ?l; akin to D., G., & Dan. aal, Icel. [=a]ll, Sw. [*a]l.] (Zo[ o]l.) An elongated fish of many genera and species. The common eels of Europe and America belong to the genus {Anguilla}. The electrical eel is a species of {Gymnotus}.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • eel — eel; eel·ery; eel·like; …   English syllables

  • eel — [ēl] n. pl. eels or eel [ME ele < OE æl, akin to Ger aal] 1. any of an order (Anguilliformes) of bony fishes with long, slippery, snakelike bodies and no pelvic fins 2. any of various other snakelike fishes, including the electric eel and… …   English World dictionary

  • eel — ► NOUN ▪ a snake like fish with a slender elongated body and poorly developed fins. DERIVATIVES eel like adjective eely adjective. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • eel|y — «EE lee», adjective. of or like an eel; wriggling …   Useful english dictionary

  • Eel — (spr. Ihl), Städtischer Bezirk (Township) in der Grafschaft Caß des Staates Indiana (Nordamerika); 2400 Ew …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • eel — [i:l] n [: Old English; Origin: Al] a long thin fish that looks like a snake and can be eaten …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • eel — [ il ] noun count a long thin fish that looks like a snake and can be eaten …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • eel — O.E. æl, from P.Gmc. *ælaz (Cf. O.Fris. el, M.Du. ael, Du. aal, O.S., O.H.G. al, Ger. Aal, O.N. all), of unknown origin, with no certain cognates outside Germanic. Used figuratively for slipperiness from at least 1520s …   Etymology dictionary

  • eel|er — «EE luhr», noun. a person who catches eels …   Useful english dictionary

  • eel — eellike, adj. eely, adj. /eel/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) eel, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) eels. 1. any of numerous elongated, snakelike marine or freshwater fishes of the order Apodes, having no ventral fins. 2. any of… …   Universalium

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