Unreel

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To unwind or pull out something that has been wound onto a reel
2. To draw off or release material that is coiled or spooled on a reel
3. To remove by unwinding from a reel-like spool or cylinder

Etymology: The verb "unreel" is a plain formation: the prefix "un-" added to "reel," meaning to wind thread or yarn off a spool or bobbin. Its meaning follows the physical act directly, so unwinding a length of line or film is simply the reverse of reeling it in. "Un-" is an old English prefix meaning "reverse" or "undo," and it attaches to many verbs, such as "unwind," "untie," and "unlock." Attaching it to "reel" yields a verb that describes undoing what the reel had wound. The "reel" half traces back to Old English "hrēol," a device for winding thread, which has given English a reel of cotton, a fishing reel, and a film reel alike.