reel

Etymology

From Middle English reel, reele, from Old English rēol, hrēol, from Proto-West Germanic *hrehul, from Proto-Germanic *hrehulaz, *hrahilaz, from Proto-Indo-European *krek- (“to weave, beat”). Cognate with Icelandic ræl, hræll.

noun

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. A 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. The music of this dance; often called a Scottish (or Scotch) reel.
   […]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 (used by seamen)
   an angler's reel
   a garden reel
   nudge the fruit machine reel
5. (agriculture) 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.
6. (film">film) A short compilation of sample film">film work used as a demonstrative resume in the entertainment industry.

verb

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.
   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, Harold Bindloss, chapter 30, in The Dust of Conflict
   Sarah reels a little, nevertheless, under the dog's boisterous greeting. 1996, Janette Turner Hospital, Oyster, paperback edition, Virago Press, page 111
5. (with back) To back off, step away, or sway backwards unsteadily and suddenly.
   He reeled back from the punch.
   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.
   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. To be in shock.
   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. October 31 2012, David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, retrieved 2012-10-31
9. To produce a mechanical insect-like song, as in grass warblers.
10. (obsolete) To roll.