Eel

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