reel 1
— reelable , adj.
/reel/ , n.
1. a cylinder, frame, or other device that turns on an axis and is used to wind up or pay out something.
2. a rotatory device attached to a fishing rod at the butt, for winding up or letting out the line.
3. Photog.
a. a spool on which film, esp. motion-picture film, is wound.
b. a roll of motion-picture film.
c. a holder for roll film in a developing tank.
4. a quantity of something wound on a reel.
5. Chiefly Brit. a spool of sewing thread; a roller or bobbin of sewing thread.
6. off the reel ,
a. without pause; continuously.
b. without delay or hesitation; immediately. Also, right off the reel .
v.t.
7. to wind on a reel, as thread, yarn, etc.
8. to unwind (silk filaments) from a cocoon.
9. to pull or draw by winding a line on a reel: to reel a fish in.
10. reel off , to say, write, or produce quickly and easily: The old sailor reeled off one story after another.
[ bef. 1050; (n.) ME rele, OE hreol; c. ON hraell weaver's rod; (v.) ME relen, deriv. of rele ]
reel 2
/reel/ , v.i.
1. to sway or rock under a blow, shock, etc.: The boxer reeled and fell.
2. to waver or fall back: The troops reeled and then ran.
3. to sway about in standing or walking, as from dizziness, intoxication, etc.; stagger.
4. to turn round and round; whirl.
5. to have a sensation of whirling: His brain reeled.
v.t.
6. to cause to reel.
n.
7. an act of reeling; a reeling or staggering movement.
[ 1300-50; ME relen, appar. deriv. of rele REEL 1 ]
Syn. 3. See stagger .
reel 3
/reel/ , n.
1. a lively Scottish dance.
2. See Virginia reel .
3. music for either of these dances.
[ 1575-85; special use of REEL 2 ]