snell

adj

1. (Scotland)Quick, smart; sharp, active, brisk or nimble; lively.

   “That in ilk action, wise and snell / You may shaw Manly fire.”

   “That horny-handed, snell, peremptory little man.”

   “Amos is a lithe, keen, snell man.”

2. (Scotland)Quick-witted; clever.

   “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.”

3. (Scotland)Harsh, severe, or stinging.

   “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.”

   “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.”

adv

1. (Scotland, alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of snelly.

noun

1. (Scotland)A short line of horsehair, gut, monofilament, etc., by which a fishhook or lure is attached to a longer (and usually heavier) line.

   “He tied on new baited snells and recovered the current with the oars.”

verb

1. (Scotland)To tie a hook to the end of a fishing line with a snell knot.

   “Can you show me how to snell a hook?”