Definition of "reel"

Doubtless the present game of chess was developed through just such fiddling; perhaps someone once thought that the drunken reel of the knight was hostile to the essence of Chess.

2010, Andrew Koppelman, The Gay Rights Question in Contemporary American Law, page 92

So strict is the kirk of Scotland, that one minister was unfrocked for writing a play (in former times); and another was sent about his business for being too fond of whiskey and of dancing the reel of Tullochgorum.

1824, Felix M'Donogh, The Hermit in Edinburgh

[…] sample the famed waters from the Scottish mountains like a native born, and last but not least, play a reel on the bagpipes in the big hall that set all the laddies and lassies dancing.

1913, Forest and Stream, volume 80

The traditional reel Within a Mile of Dublin, for instance, distorts until it reaches something quasi-industrial.

2023 November 13, Patrick Clarke, “‘People’s idea of Irishness is so warped’: John Francis Flynn, the folk singer fighting for Dublin’s spirit”, in The Guardian‎

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Psalms 107:27–They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man.

He, with heavy fumes oppress'd, / Reel'd from the palace, and retired to rest.

1725, Homer, “Book II”, in [William Broome], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot

the wagons reeling under the yellow sheaves

1770, [Oliver] Goldsmith, The Deserted Village, a Poem, London: […] W. Griffin, […]

It was by his order the shattered leading company flung itself into the houses when the Sin Verguenza were met by an enfilading volley as they reeled into the calle.

1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 30, in The Dust of Conflict‎

Sarah reels a little, nevertheless, under the dog's boisterous greeting.

1996, Janette Turner Hospital, Oyster, paperback edition, Virago Press, page 111

Terry's fist lashed out, but Simpson, anticipating the blow, stepped quickly to one side. Another followed, however, and caught the older man fairly on the chin, sent him reeling back.

1936, F.J. Thwaites, chapter XX, in The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards, published 1940, page 205

In these lengthened vigils his brain often reeled.

1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, a Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields

The high school had a send-off in my honour. It was an uncommon thing for a young man of Rajkot to go to England. I had written out a few words of thanks. But I could scarcely stammer them out. I remember how my head reeled and how my whole frame shook as I stood up to read them.

1927-29, M.K. Gandhi, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, translated 1940 by Mahadev Desai, Part I, Chapter xi

New Jersey was reeling on Wednesday from the impact of Hurricane Sandy, which has caused catastrophic flooding here in Hoboken and in other New York City suburbs, destroyed entire neighborhoods across the state and wiped out iconic boardwalks in shore towns that had enchanted generations of vacationgoers.

2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, retrieved 31 October 2012

And Sisyphus an huge round stone did reele.

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto V”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, stanza 35