Reel (r?l), n. [Gael. righil.] A lively dance of the Highlanders of
Scotland; also, the music to the dance; -- often called Scotch reel.
Virginia reel, the common name throughout the United States for the old
English "country dance," or contradance (contredanse). Bartlett.
Reel, n. [AS. kre&?;l: cf. Icel. kr&?;ll a weaver's reed or sley.] 1. A
frame with radial arms, or a kind of spool, turning on an axis, on
which yarn, threads, lines, or the like, are wound; as, a log reel,
used by seamen; an angler's reel; a garden reel.
2. A machine on which yarn is wound and measured into lays and hanks,
-- for cotton or linen it is fifty-four inches in circuit; for worsted,
thirty inches. McElrath.
3. (Agric.) A device consisting of radial arms with horizontal stats,
connected with a harvesting machine, for holding the stalks of grain in
position to be cut by the knives.
Reel oven, a baker's oven in which bread pans hang suspended from the
arms of a kind of reel revolving on a horizontal axis. Knight.
Reel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reeled (r?ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Reeling. ] 1.
To roll. [Obs.]
And Sisyphus an huge round stone did reel.
Spenser.