What does pell mean?
A pell is the skin or hide of an animal, particularly a hide that has been removed and may be used to make leather goods or clothing. The word is uncommon in contemporary English, but it has a long history and appears in literary, historical, and specialist contexts. Its modern sense should be distinguished from the more familiar use of pelt, which can refer either to an animal's fur-bearing skin or to a fur garment made from it. Because pell is relatively rare, readers will often understand it immediately from its context, even if they would use hide or skin themselves. The term is especially associated with animal skins historically valued as raw material, such as sheepskin and goatskin. It is not normally used to describe human skin, and careful speakers will reserve it for an animal's hide.
nounThe skin or hide of an animal, especially an animal skin used for making clothing or other goods.
- An animal's skin or hide, especially one used for leather or clothing.
"The craftsman softened the sheep's pell before cutting it into small pieces."
"The hide was known as a pell when it was removed from the animal."
"Traditional craftspeople used the goatskin pell to make durable outer garments."
The plural is used for multiple animal skins or hides, though the word itself is rare.
"The merchant displayed several pells at the market."
Pell belongs to a small family of English words derived from Latin pellis, “skin,” including pelt and pellicle.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pell come from?
Pell comes through Middle English from Anglo-French pelle, ultimately from Latin pellis, meaning “skin” or “hide.” The same Latin source also underlies related English words such as pelt and pellicle. Pell was historically used for animal hides and continues as a rare literary term for them.
How pell is actually used
Pell is now rare and literary, although it remains understandable. In modern usage, hide or skin is usually preferred.