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eel - 5 dictionary results

eel

[eel]
–noun, plural (especially collectively) eel, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) eels.
1. any of numerous elongated, snakelike marine or freshwater fishes of the order Apodes, having no ventral fins.
2. any of several similar but unrelated fishes, as the lamprey.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME ele, OE ēl, ǣl; c. D aal, G Aal, ON āll


eellike, adjective
eely, adjective
eel   (ēl)   
n.   pl. eel or eels
  1. Any of various long, snakelike, scaleless marine or freshwater fishes of the order Anguilliformes or Apodes that lack pelvic fins and characteristically migrate from fresh water to salt water to spawn.
  2. Any of several similar fishes, such as the lamprey and electric eel.

[Middle English ele, from Old English ǣl.]

Eel

Eel\, n. [AS. ?l; akin to D., G., & Dan. aal, Icel. [=a]ll, Sw. [*a]l.] (Zo["o]l.) An elongated fish of many genera and species. The common eels of Europe and America belong to the genus Anguilla. The electrical eel is a species of Gymnotus. The so called vinegar eel is a minute nematode worm. See Conger eel, Electric eel, and Gymnotus.
Language Translation for : eel
Spanish: anguila,
German: der Aal,
Japanese: うなぎ

eel 
O.E. æl, from P.Gmc. *ælaz, of unknown origin, with no certain cognates outside Gmc.
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