I. ˈrēl 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
• reel·able ˈrē-lə-bəl 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 reel (IV)
Date: circa 1585
1. : a lively Scottish-Highland dance ; also : the music for this dance
2. : Virginia reel