fell

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German fel skin, Latin pellis Date: before 12th century 1. skin, hide, pelt 2. a thin tough membrane covering a carcass directly under the hide II. transitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fellan; akin to Old English feallan to fall — more at fall Date: before 12th century 1. a. to cut, knock, or bring down <

fell a tree

> b. kill 2. to sew (a seam) by folding one raw edge under the other and sewing flat on the wrong side • fellable adjective • feller noun III. past of fall IV. adjective Etymology: Middle English fel, from Anglo-French — more at felon Date: 14th century 1. a. fierce, cruel, terrible b. sinister, malevolent <

a fell purpose

> c. very destructive ; deadly <

a fell disease

> 2. Scottish sharp, pungent • fellness noun • felly adverb V. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse fell, fjall mountain; akin to Old High German felis rock Date: 14th century dialect British a high barren field or moor