snell

Definition

Quick, smart; sharp, active, brisk or nimble; lively.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English snell (“quick, fast”) from Old English snel, snell (“lively, quick”) from Proto-West Germanic *snell, from Proto-Germanic *snellaz (“active, swift, brisk”). Akin to Old Saxon snel, snell (“active, strenuous”), Dutch snel, Old High German snel (whence German schnell (“quick, swift”), Yiddish שנעל (shnel, “quick, swift”), Italian snello (“quick, nimble”), Old French esnel, isnel (“snell”), and Occitan isnel, irnel (“snell”)), Old Norse snjallr (“skilful, excellent”) (whence Danish snild (“clever”)).

Example Sentences

• "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."