fell

fell

fell¹ [fel]

vi., vt.

pt. of FALL

fell² [fel]

vt.

[ME fellen < OE fællan, fellan (< Gmc * falljan), caus. of feallan (< Gmc * fallan), FALL]

1. to cause to fall; knock down [to fell an opponent with a blow]

2. to cut down (a tree or trees)

3. Sewing to turn over (the rough edge of a seam) and sew down flat on the underside

n.

1. the trees cut down in one season

2. Sewing a felled seam

fellable

adj.

feller

n.

fell³ [fel]

adj.

[ME fel < OFr < ML fello: see FELON¹]

1. fierce; terrible; cruel

2. deadly: archaic except in the phrase at (or in) one fell swoop, with a single effort or action that is completely effective, devastating, etc.

fellness

n.

fell⁴ [fel]

n.

[ME fel < OE, akin to Ger fell < IE base * pel-, skin, hide > FILM, L pellis, skin]

1. an animal's hide or skin

2. a thin membrane of connective tissue under the hide

fell⁵ [fel]

n.

[ME fel < Scand, as in ON fjall, mountain, akin to Ger fels, rock, cliff < IE base * pels- > MIr all, crag, Gr pella, stone] Brit.

1. a rocky or barren hill

2. a moor; down