eel

[ eel ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) eel, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) 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

Derived Forms

• ˈeel-ˌlike, adjective
• ˈeely, adjective

Other Words From

• eellike adjective
• eely 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

A dead moray eel washed ashore near Laguna Niguel over the weekend, creeping out beachgoers.

From Los Angeles Times

European eel are critically endangered, yet students found this species twice in the Calgary market.

From Salon

There is a global black market for European eel and a Canadian company was fined in 2021 for illegally importing them.

From Salon

“It’s giving me nightmares,” wrote a Reddit user on Saturday, posting a picture of what appeared to be a dead moray eel on the beach.

From Los Angeles Times

The moray eel has a double row of pointed teeth that angle backward, so once it bites something, its prey have a really hard time escaping, he added.

From Los Angeles Times