I. ˈēl, esp before pause or consonant ˈēəl noun
( plural eels also eel )
Etymology: Middle English ele, from Old English ǣl; akin to Old Saxon & Old High German āl eel, Old Norse āll
1.
a. : any of numerous voracious elongate snakelike teleost fishes that constitute the order Apodes and that have a smooth slimy skin often without scales, are destitute of pelvic and sometimes of pectoral fins, and have the median fins confluent around the tail — see anguilla , conger eel , leptocephalus , moray
b. : any of numerous elongate fishes more or less resembling the true eels (as those of the order Symbranchii) — see electric eel , sand eel , snake eel
2. : any of various nematodes or eelworms
the vinegar eel
3. : a person or thing that is slippery or elusive
[s]eel.jpg[/s] [
eel 1a
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II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to fish for eels
2. : worm 2