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comparative sneller, superlative snellest
Quick, smart; sharp, active, brisk or nimble; lively. quotations examples
That in ilk action, wise and snell / You may shaw Manly fire.
1720, Allan Ramsay, Edinburgh's Salutation to Lord Carnarvon
That horny-handed, snell, peremptory little man.
1852, John Brown, Rab and his Friends
Amos is a lithe, keen, snell man.
1889, James Robertson, The Early Religion of Israel
Quick-witted; clever. quotations examples
With all this heavy artillery, somewhat slow and cumbrous, on great questions, he had no want, when he was speaking off-hand, of quick, snell remark, often witty and full of spirit, and often too unexpected, like lightning—flashing, smiting, and gone.
1861, John Brown, Horæ Subsecivæ
Harsh, severe, or stinging. quotations examples
Conscience is a rough lad, I grant you, and I am keen and snell also; but never mind, take his advice, and you’ll be some credit to your freens yet, ye scoonrel.
1833, Michael Scott, Tom Cringle's Log
Fortunately, we were well prepared for such an emergency, and being sheltered in a safe creek, we roofed the ship with canvas against the snow; and so, with land on every side of us, plenty of moss fuel ashore, a good stock of provisions, and firearms for hunting, we held our trouble, and passed the snell season without the loss of a single soul aboard.
1881, Robert Buchanan, God and the Man
comparative more snell, superlative most snell
Alternative form of snelly examples
plural snells
A short line of horsehair, gut, monofilament, etc., by which a fishhook or lure is attached to a longer (and usually heavier) line. quotations examples
He tied on new baited snells and recovered the current with the oars.
1979, Cormac McCarthy, Suttree, Random House, page 194
third-person singular simple present snells, present participle snelling, simple past and past participle snelled
To tie a hook to the end of a fishing line with a snell knot. examples