▪ I. reeler1
(ˈriːlə(r))
[f. reel v.2 + -er1.]
1. a. One who reels or winds yarn, cord, etc., upon a reel; also, one who employs such workers.
| 1598 Florio, Innaspatore, a reeler or winder of yarne. 1611 Cotgr. s.v. Garde, Faire la garde, to make fast; (a phrase vsed by reelers, or winders of yarne). 1776–7 [see reeled ppl. a.]. 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 395 The slubs which may have been left in the silk by the negligence of the foreign reeler. 1844 G. Dodd Textile Manuf. vi. 175 When the winder or reeler has purchased the cocoons [etc.]. 1891 Textile Industries 12 Dec. 61/1 However careless the reeler may be, the reel is stopped instantly. |
b. (See quot.)
| 1893 L. Kellern Soldiers at Sea 50 Told off as Reelers, to haul in the reel, which tests the ship's rate of progress. |
c. The grasshopper-warbler, Locustella nævia.
| 1871–4 Newton Yarrell's Brit. Birds I. 385 In the more marshy parts of England..this bird has long been known as the ‘Reeler’—from the resemblance of its song to the noise of the reel used..by the hand-spinners of wool. |
d. Cant (after peeler). A policeman.
| 1879 Macm. Mag. Oct. 502/1 A reeler came to the cell and cross-kiddled (questioned) me. |
2. An instrument for reeling. In mod. use, a machine which winds paper, yarn, etc., on to reels.
| 1598 Florio, Indeuenatoio, a reeler or reeling sticke. 1629 Massinger Picture v. i, Ubaldo. I have not spittle enough to wet my fingers When I draw my flax from my distaff. Ricardo. Nor I, strength To raise my hand to the top of my reeler. 1906 [see re-reel v.]. 1907 [see cop-winder s.v. cop n.2 8]. 1929 Clapperton & Henderson Mod. Paper-Making xvi. 246 Many defects in the paper..will..cause a break at the reeler, owing to the high tension of the paper as it passes from the roll to the reeler bar. 1952 F. H. Norris Paper & Paper Making xvii. 246 The reeler is equipped with a yardage counter and may have four winding drums. 1955 S. C. Gilmour Paper vi. 59 On most modern machines..a drum reeler is more common. |
3. Cinemat. Used with a qualifying number, as two-reeler or two reeler, to designate a film consisting of the given number of reels. orig. U.S. Cf. reel n.1 3 c.
| 1916 Chicago Herald 17 Feb. 3/4 Essanay will make an international release of the eight-reeler. 1922 H. L. Wilson Merton of Movies v. 90, I got another two reeler to pull off after this one. 1938 F. H. Ricketson Managem. Motion Picture Theatres 121 Coming-attraction trailers can be spotted after the newsreel. A two-reeler, if the length of the feature permits, or a one-reel comedy can follow. 1976 L. Kennedy Presumption of Innocence ii. 88 A kind of mad, surrealistic quality, like an early Chaplin two-reeler. |
Hence ˈreelerman, one who operates a reeler (sense 2).
| 1929 Clapperton & Henderson Mod. Paper-Making xvi. 247 The yardage is kept on two different tickets by the reelerman. |
▪ II. reeler2
(ˈriːlə(r))
[f. reel v.1 + -er1.]
a. A stagger; esp. in slang phr. to cop a reeler, to get drunk. b. One who sways or staggers; a drunken person.
| 1937 J. Curtis You're in Racket, Too v. 60 Make him swear blind he'll be quiet as he comes up the stairs, see? Of course, if he's copped a reeler you'll have to skip it. 1960 A. Clarke Later Poems (1961) 76 Though every firework has been banned, Student or reeler from a band Flung it. |