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feller
1[ fel-er ]
feller
2[ fel-er ]
Feller
3[ fel-er ]
noun
- Robert William Andrew BobBullet Bob, 1918–2010, U.S. baseball player.
feller
1/ ˈfɛlə /
noun
- a person or thing that fells
- an attachment on a sewing machine for felling seams
feller
2/ ˈfɛlə /
noun
- a nonstandard variant of fellow
Word History and Origins
Origin of feller1
Example Sentences
Green Diamond forestry crews quickly mobilized, using bulldozers and feller bunchers to carve out lines to try to block the flames’ advance.
May would be the first out, standing in the living room and talking to the distressed bat: “Poor little feller. Must be scared to death. You never meant to come into this old trailer....”
An old saying in our state holds that “when a feller says, ‘It ain’t the money, it’s the principle of the thing’ … it’s the money.”
Michael Kampnich, who grew up in dairy country in Upstate New York, found work as “a feller” in 1980 on Prince of Wales.
Curse me, but he was the strongest chap I ever struck, an’ him a old feller, with a white moustache, one that thin you would think he couldn’t throw a shadder.”
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More About Feller
What does feller mean?
Feller is a very informal way of saying fellow—a general term for a man or boy.
It can also be used to refer to a male animal, especially a pet, as in Look at this cute little feller!
It’s often paired with an adjective, as in handsome feller or big feller.
Less commonly, feller can be used as an informal term of address similar to terms like dude, buddy, or pal, as in Hey, feller, what’s new with you? It can also be used by a man to refer to himself, as in Where can a feller find a hot meal around here?
The related term fella is also a variant of fellow and is thought to come from an altered pronunciation of feller. Fella is also very informal. Most senses of feller and fella sound old-timey and aren’t commonly used (other than to sound old-timey or to be funny). Feller is especially associated with rural speakers.
Unrelatedly, feller also means someone who fells things—cuts them down—such as a lumberjack.
In sewing, to fell is to finish a seam by sewing the edge down flat. In this context, feller can refer to a person who finishes a seam in this way or to a sewing machine attachment that does it.
Example: That lumberjack-looking feller was in here not a half hour ago asking for directions.
Where does feller come from?
The first records of the word feller come from around 1700. It’s a variant of the word fellow.
Though fella and feller are very similar, fella is commonly used in some ways that feller is not. For example, the plural form fellas is used by men or boys as an informal and familiar way to refer to their male friends (the fellas) or as a way to address them. In this way, it’s used in much the same way as the term guys, as in Jen’s having a night out with the ladies, so I’m going to stay here and hang with the fellas. It’s possible to use fellers in this way, but it’s not at all common.
Did you know ... ?
How is feller used in real life?
The term feller is very informal. It’s typically used in a humorous way.
Texting one handsome feller (;
— Dud ✨ (@dsevere_) February 3, 2012
Met some feller for our first date 13 years ago. Happy First-Date-A-Versary @3045hobart. Another 13 and our daughter will be off to college 😱 pic.twitter.com/oSiNJehylr
— Raymond J Lee (@raymondjlee) February 19, 2020
Found a little feller :) pic.twitter.com/EFhYTuPMMa
— Allister🇦🇺 (@AllisterThorne) July 19, 2020
Try using feller!
Is feller used correctly in the following sentence?
He may be a young feller, but he sure is clever!
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