peal

Etymology 1

From Middle English pele, peil, probably an apheretic variant of Middle English apel, appel, from Old French apel (“an appeal; pealing of bells”). Compare appeal.

noun

1. A loud sound, or a succession of loud sounds, as of bells, thunder, cannon, shouts, laughter, of a multitude, etc.
   And she has half a mind to weep again now, for Jack Brotherhood, as the front doorbell sounds through the house like a bugle call, three short peals as ever. 1986, John le Carré, A Perfect Spy
2. (collective) A set of bells tuned to each other according to the diatonic scale.
   Ingulphus, the chronicler of Croyland Abbey, mentions that a peal of seven bells was put up there in the tenth century, and that there was not such a harmonious peal in the whole of England; which implies that rings of bells were then common. 1908, H. B. Walters, chapter 1, in Church Bells
3. The changes rung on a set of bells; in the strict sense a full peal of at least 5040 changes.

verb

1. (intransitive) To sound with a peal or peals.
   Then pealed the bells more loud and deep... 1864, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Christmas Bells
   To the church we'll swiftly steal, then our wedding bells will peal, / You can go as far you like with me, in my merry Oldsmobile 1939 [1905], “In My Merry Oldsmobile”, Vincent P. Bryan (lyrics), Gus Edwards (music), performed by Bing Crosby
   The bell pealed 20 times, clanging into the dusk as Mr. Bush’s motorcade drove off. 2006-09-11, Sheryl Gay Stolberg, “Bush Mourns 9/11 at Ground Zero as N.Y. Remembers”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
2. (transitive) To utter or sound loudly.
   The warrior's name, / Though pealed and chimed on all the tongues of fame. 1807, Joel Barlow, The Columbiad
3. (transitive) To assail with noise.
4. (intransitive) To resound; to echo.
   And the whole air pealed / With the cheers of our men. 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Cumberland
5. (obsolete) To appeal.
   To A baron of chekker þay mun hit pele'. c. 1450, The Boke of Curtasye

Etymology 2

Uncertain.

noun

1. A small salmon; a grilse; a sewin.