[reel] n [ME, fr. OE hreol; akin to ON hraell weaver's reed, Gk krekein to weave] (bef. 12c) 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 Brit: a spool or bobbin for sewing thread c: a flanged spool for photographic film; esp: one for motion pictures
2: a quantity of something wound on a reel
[2]reel vt (14c) 1: to wind on or as if on a reel
2: to draw by reeling a line "~ a fish in" ~ vi: to turn a reel -- reel.able adj [3]reel vb [ME relen, prob. fr. reel, n.] vi (14c) 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 ~ vt: to cause to reel [4]reel n (1572): a reeling motion [5]reel n [prob. fr. [4]reel] (ca. 1585) 1: a lively Scottish-Highland dance; also: the music for this dance
2: virginia reel