Snell

UK: /snɛl/ US: 'Snell', 'snell': (snel)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Snell / snɛl/ noun

1. Sir Peter (George). 1938–2019, New Zealand athlete; winner of three Olympic gold medals: for the 800 metres in 1960, and again in 1964, when he also won gold for the 1500 metres

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

snell¹  (snel), n. 

1. a short piece of nylon, gut, or the like, by which a fishhook is attached to a line.
• origin, originally uncertain 1840–50, American.

snell²  (snel), adj. [Chiefly Scot.]

1. Scottish Terms active;
   lively:
   a snell lad.
2. Scottish Terms witty:
   a snell remark.
3. Scottish Terms severe:
   snell weather.

• bef. 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old High German snel (German schnell) quick, Old Norse snjallr excellent

Snell  (snel), n. 

1. Biographical Peter (George), born 1938, New Zealand track-and-field athlete.