reel

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hrēol; akin to Old Norse hræll weaver's reed, Greek krekein to weave Date: before 12th century 1. a revolvable device on which something flexible is wound: as a. a small windlass at the butt of a fishing rod for the line b. chiefly British a spool or bobbin for sewing thread c. a flanged spool for photographic film; especially one for motion pictures 2. a quantity of something wound on a reel II. verb Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to wind on or as if on a reel 2. to draw by reeling a line <

reel a fish in

> intransitive verb to turn a reel • reelable adjective III. verb Etymology: Middle English relen, probably from reel, noun Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. a. to turn or move round and round b. to be in a whirl 2. to behave in a violent disorderly manner 3. to waver or fall back (as from a blow) 4. to walk or move unsteadily transitive verb to cause to reel IV. noun Date: 1572 a reeling motion V. noun Etymology: probably from 4reel Date: circa 1585 1. a lively Scottish-Highland dance; also the music for this dance 2. Virginia reel