I. ˈfel noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German fel skin, Latin pellis
Date: before 12th century
1. : skin , hide , pelt
2. : a thin tough membrane covering a carcass directly under the hide
II. transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fellan; akin to Old English feallan to fall — more at fall
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : to cut, knock, or bring down
fell a tree
b. : kill
2. : to sew (a seam) by folding one raw edge under the other and sewing flat on the wrong side
• fell·able ˈfe-lə-bəl adjective
• fell·er noun
III.
past of fall
IV. adjective
Etymology: Middle English fel, from Anglo-French — more at felon
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : fierce , cruel , terrible
b. : sinister , malevolent
a fell purpose
c. : very destructive : deadly
a fell disease
2. Scottish : sharp , pungent
• fell·ness noun
• fel·ly ˈfel-lē adverb
V. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse fell, fjall mountain; akin to Old High German felis rock
Date: 14th century
dialect British : a high barren field or moor