eel

eel
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. 2014.

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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|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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