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Heel vs Eel - What's the difference?

heel | eel |

As nouns the difference between heel and eel

is that heel is the rear part of the foot, where it joins the leg while eel is any freshwater or marine fish of the order Anguilliformes, which are elongated and resemble snakes.

As verbs the difference between heel and eel

is that heel is to follow at somebody's heels; to chase closely while eel is to fish for eels.

As a proper noun Heel

is a part of Maasgouw in the Netherlands.

heel

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) hele, heel, from (etyl) . More at (l).

Noun

(en noun)
  • (anatomy) The rear part of the foot, where it joins the leg.
  • * Denham
    • He [the stag] calls to mind his strength and then his speed, / His winged heels and then his armed head.
  • The part of a shoe's sole which supports the foot's heel.
  • The rear part of a sock or similar covering for the foot.
  • (firearms) The back upper part of the stock.
  • The last or lowest part of anything; as, the heel of a mast'' or ''the heel of a vessel .
  • * A. Trollope
    • the heel of a hunt
  • (US, Ireland) A crust end-piece of a loaf of bread.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • the heel of the white loaf
  • (US) The base of a bun sliced in half lengthwise.
  • * 1996 , Ester Reiter, Making Fast Food: From the Frying Pan Into the Fryer (page 100)
    • The bottom half, or the bun heel is placed in the carton, and the pickle slices spread evenly over the meat or cheese.
  • A contemptible, inconsiderate or thoughtless person.
  • (slang, professional wrestling) A wrestler whose on-ring persona embodies villainous or reprehensible traits. Contrast with babyface.
  • * 1992 , Bruce Lincoln, Discourse and the Construction of Society (page 158)
    • Freedman began his analysis by noting two important facts about professional wrestling: First, that heels triumph considerably more often than do babyfaces
  • (card games) The cards set aside for later use in a patience or solitaire game.
  • Anything regarded as like a human heel in shape; a protuberance; a knob.
  • (architecture) The lower end of a timber in a frame, as a post or rafter. Specifically, (US), the obtuse angle of the lower end of a rafter set sloping.
  • (architecture) A cyma reversa; so called by workmen.
    • (Gwilt)
  • (carpentry) the short side of an angled cut
    • Antonyms
    * (angled cut in carpentry) toe
    Derived terms
    * Achilles heel * bring someone to heel * cool one's heels * dig in one's heels * down at heel * head over heels * heelside * heel-and-toe * high heels * hot on somebody's heels * kick one's heels * kick up one's heels * kitten heel * Tar Heel * stiletto heel * spike heel * take to one's heels * turn on one's heel * well-heeled

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To follow at somebody's heels; to chase closely.
  • To add a heel to, or increase the size of the heel of (a shoe or boot).
  • To kick with the heel.
  • To perform by the use of the heels, as in dancing, running, etc.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I cannot sing, / Nor heel the high lavolt.
  • To arm with a gaff, as a cock for fighting.

    • Etymology 2

    Alteration of earlier heeld, from (etyl) heelden, from (etyl) hyldan, ). More at (l).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To incline to one side, to tilt (especially of ships).

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of inclining or canting from a vertical position; a cant.
    • The ship gave a heel to port.
    Synonyms
    * (l)

    Anagrams

    * English terms with multiple etymologies ----

    eel

    English

    (wikipedia eel) (Anguilliformes)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any freshwater or marine fish of the order Anguilliformes, which are elongated and resemble snakes.
  • The European eel, .

    • Derived terms

    * African eel * cutthroat eel * conger eel * duckbill eel * eelboat * eelbuck * eeler * eelfare * eelfish * eelgrass * eelish * eellike * eelpot * eelpout, eel-pout * eelskin * eelspear * eely * electric eel * European eel * glass eel * Japanese eel * moray eel * mud eel * sand eel * sawtooth eel * slippery as an eel * snake eel * snipe eel * spaghetti eel * thin eel * worm eel

    See also

    * elver

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To fish for eels.
  • To move with a sinuous motion like that of an eel.

    • Anagrams

    * * ----