eel

[eel]

noun

plural

eel ,

plural

eels .

1. any of numerous elongated, snakelike marine or freshwater fishes of the order Apodes, having no ventral fins.

2. any of several similar but unrelated fishes, as the lamprey.

eel

/ iːl /

noun

1. any teleost fish of the order Apodes (or Anguilliformes ), such as the European freshwater species Anguilla anguilla, having a long snakelike body, a smooth slimy skin, and reduced fins

2. any of various other animals with a long body and smooth skin, such as the mud eel and the electric eel

3. an evasive or untrustworthy person

Other Word Forms

• eel-like adjective
• eely adjective
• eellike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of eel¹

before 1000; Middle English ele, Old English ēl, ǣl; cognate with Dutch aal, German Aal, Old Norse āll

Word History and Origins

Origin of eel¹

Old English ǣl; related to Old Frisian ēl, Old Norse āll, Old High German āl

Idioms and Phrases

see slippery as an eel.

Example Sentences

The European eel is red-listed as critically endangered - it ranks one tier below the conservation status given to pandas, rhinos and tigers.

From BBC

There are also plans to produce fish-like products this way, including eel and even caviar.

From BBC

Both sunlight and moonlight play roles in regulating the spawning and migration of Japanese eels.

From Salon

We gawked at the sea creatures — lobsters, soft-shell turtles, wriggling live eels — while she filled the cart.

From Salon

It’s so good and sometimes we’ll throw in a little bit of eel.

From Los Angeles Times