ˈsand-eel
Also 4–5 sandel, 4 sandhell, 5 sawndel, 6 sand el.
[f. sand n.2 + eel n.]
1. A fish of the genus Ammodytes, having a slender, cylindrical, silvery body resembling that of an eel.
| 1307 Durh. Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 3 In c de makerell,..cccc di. merling. et sandelis. 1338 Ibid. 35 In Sandhells empt. pro familia die Veneris, 14d. 1425–6 Ibid. 620 Et de 3s. 4d. rec. pro tractatu de Sandeelez. c 1440–60 [see sandling1 1]. [1558 Rondelet Gesn. Hist. Anim. iv. 1260 De Ammodyte pisce, vt nos vocauimus, pro Anglico Sandilz.] 1671 Ray in Phil. Trans. VI. 2276 Those little long fishes, which our Fishermen dig out of the Sands at low water, and therefore call in some places Sand-Eeles. c 1711 Petiver Gazophyl. vi. lix, Brasil Sand Eel... About 9 Inches long; very good Meat. 1880 Günther Fishes 550 The ‘Sand-eels’ or ‘Launces’ (Ammodytes) are extremely common on sandy shores of Europe and North America. |
2. N. Z. The fish Gonorhynchus greyi.
| 1891 in Century Dict. |
Hence ˈsand-eeling, fishing for sand-eels.
| 1862 Ansted Channel Isl. ii. ix. (ed. 2) 212 Sand-eeling at midnight..is one of the amusements of all classes. |