online medical dictionary | definition of fell

1. Cruel; barbarous; inhuman; fierce; savage; ravenous. "While we devise fell tortures for thy faults." (Shak)

2. Eager; earnest; intent. "I am so fell to my business." (Pepys)

Origin: OE. Fel, OF. Fel cruel, fierce, perfidious; cf. AS. Fel (only in comp) OF. Fel, as a noun also accus. Felon, is fr. LL. Felo, of unknown origin; cf. Arm fall evil, Ir. Feal, Arm. Falloni treachery, Ir. & Gael. Feall to betray; or cf. OHG. Fillan to flay, torment, akin to E. Fell skin. Cf. Felon.

A skin or hide of a beast with the wool or hair on; a pelt; used chiefly in composition, as woolfell. "We are still handling our ewes, and their fells, you know, are greasy." (Shak)

Origin: AS. Fell; akin to D. Vel, OHG. Fel, G. Fell, Icel. Fell (in comp), Goth fill in orutsfill leprosy, L. Pellis skin, G. Cf. Film, Peel, Pell.

<chemical>

The finer portions of ore which go through the meshes, when the ore is sorted by sifting.

(01 Mar 1998)