reel·ing (r  l ng)n. Maine Sustained noise, as from hammering: "Hark that reeling, now, you'll wake the baby!" (Anonymous). Regional Note: In the granite quarries of Maine, stones for paving were once shaped by men using small hammers called reels. Crews of 30 men at a time would use these hammers. The resulting "shattering noise as the pieces of the granite were shaped... gave Mainers a word for any sustained hubbub  reelin'" (John Gould). Reeling can denote noise made by humans as well: She told the children to hush their reeling. |
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