echel

From Middle Dutch echel, ēgele, from Old Dutch *egela, from Proto-West Germanic *egalu (“leech”). Related with egel (“hedgehog”). Cognate with German Egel (“leech”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛ.xəl/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: echel

echel f (plural echels, diminutive echeltje n)

1. (dated) leech, in particular one species used in bloodletting, the European medical leech, Hirudo officinalis

• (leech): bloedzuiger, laak

From Proto-Celtic *aksilā. Cognate with Latin axis.

• (North Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈɛχɛl/
• (South Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈeːχɛl/, /ˈɛχɛl/
• Rhymes: -eːχɛl, -ɛχɛl

echel f (plural echelau or echelydd or echeli or echyl)

1. axle
2. (geometry, dated) axis

   Synonym: (more common) echelin

• echelbin (“linchpin”)
• taflu rhywun oddi ar ei echel (“to throw off, to put off, to disconcert”, literally “to throw someone off their axle”)

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “echel”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies