Snell

Part of speech: noun (n.)

A short line of horsehair, gut, etc., by which a fishhook is attached to a longer line.

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

Active; brisk; nimble; quick; sharp. [Archaic or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] That horny-handed, snell, peremptory little man. Dr. J. Brown.