Reel (r?l), n. [Gael. righil.]
A lively dance of the Highlanders of Scotland; also, the music to the dance; -- often called Scotch reel.
Virginia reel, the common name throughout the United States for the old English "country dance," or contradance (contredanse). Bartlett.
© Webster 1913.
Reel, n. [AS. krel: cf. Icel. krll a weaver's reed or sley.]
1.
A frame with radial arms, or a kind of spool, turning on an axis, on which yarn, threads, lines, or the like, are wound; as, a log reel, used by seamen; an angler's reel; a garden reel.
2.
A machine on which yarn is wound and measured into lays and hanks, -- for cotton or linen it is fifty-four inches in circuit; for worsted, thirty inches.
McElrath.
3. Agric.
A device consisting of radial arms with horizontal stats, connected with a harvesting machine, for holding the stalks of grain in position to be cut by the knives.
Reel oven, a baker's oven in which bread pans hang suspended from the arms of a kind of reel revolving on a horizontal axis.
Knight.
© Webster 1913.
Reel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reeled (r?ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Reeling. ]
1.
To roll.
[Obs.]
And Sisyphus an huge round stone did reel.
Spenser.
2.
To wind upon a reel, as yarn or thread.
© Webster 1913.
Reel, v. i. [Cf. Sw. ragla. See 2d Reel.]
1.
To incline, in walking, from one side to the other; to stagger.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man.
Ps. cvii. 27.
He, with heavy fumes oppressed,
Reeled from the palace, and retired to rest.
Pope.
The wagons reeling under the yellow sheaves.
Macualay.
2.
To have a whirling sensation; to be giddy.
In these lengthened vigils his brain often reeled.
Hawthorne.
© Webster 1913.
Reel, n.
The act or motion of reeling or staggering; as, a drunken reel.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.