Now n.w. dial. Forms: 1 tænil, -el, tenil; 5 tenel; 9 teanal(e, teanel, tennil. [OE. tǽnil, -el = MHG. zeinel, deriv. of OTeut. *tainjā, in Goth. tainjô wicker basket, OHG. zeinnâ, zeinâ, MHG. zeine weak fem., ON. *teina, pl. teinur basket, creel; deriv. of *tainoz, ON. teinn (:teinr), OE. tán, OHG. zein twig, osier-wand.] A basket.
a. 700. Epinal Gloss. (O.E.T.), 403. Fiscilla, taenil.
a. 800. Erfurt Gloss., 403. Fiscella, tenil.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints Lives (1890), II. 44. Him on hand ʓenam ænne lytelne tænel mid caricum ʓefylledne.
a. 1100. Ags. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 336/9. Sportella, tænel.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 489/1. Tenel, or crele, cartallus. Ibid. Tenel, vessel, tenella.
1869. Lonsdale Gloss., Teanel, an osier fish-basket.
1882. Lancs. Gloss., Tennil, a large basket.