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Peal vs Peel - What's the difference?

peal | peel |

In intransitive terms the difference between peal and peel

is that peal is to sound with a peal or peals while peel is to move, separate (off or away.

In transitive terms the difference between peal and peel

is that peal is to assail with noise while peel is to remove from the outer or top layer of.

In obsolete terms the difference between peal and peel

is that peal is to appeal while peel is a fence made of stakes; a stockade.

As a proper noun Peel is

a town on the Isle of Man.

peal

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A loud sound, or a succession of loud sounds, as of bells, thunder, cannon, shouts, laughter, of a multitude, etc.
  • * 1883:
  • And, falling on a bench, he laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks, I could not help joining; and we laughed together, peal' after ' peal
  • * Hayward
  • a fair peal of artillery
  • * Shakespeare
  • whether those peals of praise be his or no
  • * Byron
  • and a deep thunder, peal' on ' peal , afar
  • A set of bells tuned to each other according to the diatonic scale.
  • The changes rung on a set of bells.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To sound with a peal or peals.
  • * 1864: , Christmas Bells
  • Then pealed the bells more loud and deep...
  • * 1939: , In My Merry Oldsmobile
  • To the church we'll swiftly steal, then our wedding bells will peal ,
    You can go as far you like with me, in my merry Oldsmobile.
  • * 2006: New York Times
  • The bell pealed 20 times, clanging into the dusk as Mr. Bush’s motorcade drove off.
  • To utter or sound loudly.
  • * J. Barlow
  • The warrior's name, / Though pealed and chimed on all the tongues of fame.
  • To assail with noise.
  • * Milton
  • Nor was his ear less pealed .
  • To resound; to echo.
  • * Longfellow
  • And the whole air pealed / With the cheers of our men.
  • (UK, dialect) To pour out.
  • (Halliwell)
  • (obsolete) To appeal.
  • (Spencer)

    Etymology 2

    Uncertain.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small salmon; a grilse; a sewin.
  • Anagrams

    * * * ----

    peel

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To remove the skin or outer covering of.
  • I sat by my sister's bed, peeling oranges for her.
  • * Shakespeare
  • The skillful shepherd peeled me certain wands.
  • To remove from the outer or top layer of.
  • I peeled (the skin from) an orange and ate it hungrily.
    We peeled the old wallpaper off in strips where it was hanging loose.
  • To become detached, come away, especially in flakes or strips; to shed skin in such a way.
  • I had been out in the sun too long, and my nose was starting to peel .
  • To remove one's clothing.
  • The children peeled by the side of the lake and jumped in.
  • To move, separate (off or away)
  • The scrum-half peeled off and made for the touchlines.
    Synonyms
    * (remove outer covering) skin, strip * (remove clothing) disrobe, strip
    Derived terms
    * peel off * peel out * keep one's eyes peeled (i.e. with eyelids open) * peeler

    Noun

  • The skin or outer layer of a fruit, vegetable, etc.
  • The action of peeling away from a formation.
  • (label) cosmetic preparation designed to remove dead skin or exfoliate.
  • Synonyms
    * (skin of a fruit) rind, zest
    Derived terms
    * orange peel * peel strength

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) and (etyl) pel (compare modern French pieu), from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A stake.
  • (obsolete) A fence made of stakes; a stockade.
  • (archaic) A small tower, fort, or castle; a keep.
  • Derived terms
    * peel-house, peelhouse * peel-tower

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) pele (compare modern (pelle)), from (etyl) pala, from the base of .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A shovel or similar instrument, now especially a pole with a flat disc at the end used for removing loaves of bread from a baker's oven.
  • A T-shaped implement used by printers and bookbinders for hanging wet sheets of paper on lines or poles to dry.
  • (archaic, US) The blade of an oar.
  • Etymology 4

    Origin unknown.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Scotland, and, curling) An equal or match; a draw.
  • (curling) A takeout which removes a stone from play as well as the delivered stone.
  • Etymology 5

    Named from Walter H. Peel, a noted 19th-century croquet player.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (croquet) To send through a hoop (of a ball other than one's own).
  • Etymology 6

    Misspelling of peal.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • : to sound loudly.
  • * 1825 June 25, "My Village Bells", in The Circulator of Useful Knowledge, Literature, Amusement, and General Information'' number XXVI, available in, 1825, ''The Circulator of Useful Amusement, Literature, Science, and General Information , page 401,
  • Oh ! still for me let merry bells peel out their holy chime;
  • * 1901 January 1, "Twentieth Century's Triumphant Entry", , page 1,
  • The lights flashed, the crowds sang,... bells peeled , bombs thundered,... and the new Century made its triumphant entry.
  • * 2006 , Miles Richardson, Being-In-Christ and Putting Death in Its Place , , ISBN 0807132047, pages 230–231,
  • As the tiny Virgin... approaches one of the barrio churches, bells peel vigorously, a brass band launches into a fast-paced tune, and large rockets zoom... .

    Etymology 7

    (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To plunder; to pillage, rob.
  • * Milton
  • But govern ill the nations under yoke, / Peeling their provinces.