I. ˈkrēl, esp before pause or consonant -ēəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English crele, crelle, creille, probably from (assumed) Middle French creille small gridiron (Old French & Middle French greille ), from Latin craticula, diminutive of cratis wickerwork — more at hurdle
1. : a wickerwork receptacle: as
a. : a basket for carrying fish or peat on the back
b. : an angler's basket
c. : a trap for fish or lobsters
2. dialect England : a framework of varying form (as a rack for plates or a frame on which to slaughter pigs or shear sheep)
3. textile manuf : a bar or set of bars with skewers for holding paying-off bobbins (as in the roving machine or mule) ; also : any frame for holding the bobbins or spools
•
- in a creel
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to put (fish) in a creel : catch , take
the number of trout creeled per angler
2. : to set up the creel on (a textile machine)