reel

Definitions

1. 1.A frame with radial arms, or a kind of spool, turning on an axis, on which yarn, threads, lines, or the like, are wound; as, a log reel, used by seamen; an angler's reel; a garden reel.
2. 2.A machine on which yarn is wound and measured into lays and hanks, -- for cotton or linen it is fifty-four inches in circuit; for worsted, thirty inches. McElrath.
3. 3.(Agric.) A device consisting of radial arms with horizontal stats, connected with a harvesting machine, for holding the stalks of grain in position to be cut by the knives. Reel oven, a baker's oven in which bread pans hang suspended from the arms of a kind of reel revolving on a horizontal axis. Knight.
4. 4.To roll. [Obs.] And Sisyphus an huge round stone did reel. Spenser.
5. 5.To wind upon a reel, as yarn or thread.
6. 6.To incline, in walking, from one side to the other; to stagger. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man. Ps. cvii.
7. 7.He, with heavy fumes oppressed, Reeled from the palace, and retired to rest. Pope. The wagons reeling under the yellow sheaves. Macualay.
8. 8.To have a whirling sensation; to be giddy. In these lengthened vigils his brain often reeled. Hawthorne.
9. 9.The act or motion of reeling or staggering; as, a drunken reel. Shak.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Related questions

• What does "reel" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is reel.

• What is a frame with radial arms, or a kind of spool, turning on an axis, on which yarn, threads, lines, or the like, are wound; as, a log reel, used by seamen; an angler's reel; a garden reel called?
• What is a machine on which yarn is wound and measured into lays and hanks, -- for cotton or linen it is fifty-four inches in circuit; for worsted, thirty inches. McElrath called?
• What is to roll. [Obs.] And Sisyphus an huge round stone did reel. Spenser called?
• What is to incline, in walking, from one side to the other; to stagger. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man. Ps. cvii called?
• What is he, with heavy fumes oppressed, Reeled from the palace, and retired to rest. Pope. The wagons reeling under the yellow sheaves. Macualay called?
• What is to have a whirling sensation; to be giddy. In these lengthened vigils his brain often reeled. Hawthorne called?
• What is the act or motion of reeling or staggering; as, a drunken reel. Shak called?