reel

plural reels

1. A shaky or unsteady gait.

   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

2. danceA lively dance originating in Scotland.

   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

3. entertainmentThe music of this dance; often called a Scottish (or Scotch) reel.

   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, →ISSN

   1 more example

   […]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

4. A kind of spool, turning on an axis, on which yarn, threads, lines, or the like, are wound.

   a log reel

   4 more examples

   an angler's reel

   a garden reel

   Nudge the fruit machine reel.

   A hose reel forms part of a hose trolley or hose cart

5. agricultureA 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.
6. broadcastingA short compilation of sample film work used as a demonstrative resume in the entertainment industry.

   Synonyms: showreel

7. capitalizedsometimessocial mediaA chronological collection of pictures or short videos published by a user on an app or website and typically only available for a short period.

   Walking outside is like scrolling reels with your body

   2026 May 26, epicjoko, Instagram

   Synonyms: story, Snap

present singular third person reels · participle present reeling · participle past reeled · past reeled

1. To wind on a reel.
2. To spin or revolve repeatedly.
3. To unwind; to bring or acquire something by spinning or winding something else.

   He reeled off some tape from the roll and sealed the package.

4. To walk shakily or unsteadily; to stagger; move as if drunk or not in control of oneself.

   the wagons reeling under the yellow sheaves

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

   5 more examples

   They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 107:27

   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, →OCLC

   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 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 30, in The Dust of Conflict, 1st Canadian edition, Toronto, Ont.: McLeod & Allen, →OCLC

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

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

   Wheeler reels with fright. He almost falls off the front of the stage. His stomach convulses and he wants to vomit, but a frantic fragment of his brain hasn't panicked yet and tells him, Wait. Nothing's changed. That's what humans have always looked like. Right? What's happening? What's wrong?

   2019 April 10, qntm, “CASE HATE RED”, in There Is No Antimemetics Division, →ISBN, page 138

5. To back off, step away, or sway backwards unsteadily and suddenly.

   He reeled back from the punch.

   1 more example

   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

6. To make or cause to reel.
7. To have a whirling sensation; to be giddy.

   In these lengthened vigils his brain often reeled.

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

   1 more example

   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

8. especiallyfigurativelyTo be in shock.

   1 more example

   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 Oct 2012

9. To produce a mechanical insect-like song, as in grass warblers.
10. obsoleteTo roll.

    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, →OCLC, stanza 35

11. figurativelyTo bring in or along.

    Frank stood at the sink, and began washing the plates. He realised if he was going to reel his great-aunt into his plan, he was going to have to do it very gently.

    2017, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Bad Dad, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN

plural Reels

1. A surname.