Words ending
in L.

To be ill; also, to trouble or cause pain.

Origin: Old English eglan

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

The whole of something; every one.

Origin: Old English eall

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A pointed tool for making small holes in leather or wood.

Origin: Old English æl

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A long fish shaped like a snake.

Origin: Old English ǣl

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A thick, jelly-like substance, such as hair gel.

Origin: Short for gelatin

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

Sick or unwell.

Origin: Old Norse illr

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

Nothing; zero, especially in a game score.

Origin: Latin nihil (nothing)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A greasy liquid that does not mix with water, used for cooking, fuel or making machines run smoothly.

Origin: Latin oleum (olive oil)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A bird of prey with large eyes that hunts at night.

Origin: Old English ūle

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A close friend.

Origin: Romani phral (brother)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A round object used in games; also, a formal dance.

Origin: Old Norse böllr

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A hollow metal object that rings when struck.

Origin: Old English belle

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A round, deep dish for food or liquid.

Origin: Old English bolla

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A black rock that burns and is used as fuel.

Origin: Old English col

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A small toy figure of a person.

Origin: Probably from Doll, a nickname for Dorothy

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

Something burned to make heat or power, such as wood, coal or petrol.

Origin: Old French feuaile, from Latin focus (hearth)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A female child or young woman.

Origin: Middle English gurle

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

Something you aim for; in games, the area where you score, or a point scored.

Origin: Middle English gol (boundary)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A raised area of land, smaller than a mountain.

Origin: Old English hyll

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

Letters and parcels sent by mail.

Origin: Old French male (bag)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

The food eaten at one time, such as breakfast or dinner.

Origin: Old English mǣl

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A thin, pointed piece of metal hammered in to join things; also, the hard covering at the end of a finger or toe.

Origin: Old English nægl

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A small area of still water; also, a tank of water for swimming.

Origin: Old English pōl

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

To move something toward you.

Origin: Old English pullian

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A large sheet of cloth on a boat that catches the wind; also, to travel by boat.

Origin: Old English segl

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

The top layer of earth in which plants grow.

Origin: Anglo-French soil (piece of land), from Latin solium (seat), influenced by solum (ground)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

The part at the back end of an animal's body that sticks out.

Origin: Old English tægel

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A hand-held object used to do a job, such as a hammer or saw.

Origin: Old English tōl

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A solid side of a building or room, or a structure that divides or encloses an area.

Origin: Old English weall, from Latin vallum (rampart)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

The soft, thick hair of sheep, made into yarn and cloth.

Origin: Old English wull

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A spiritual being believed to serve as God's messenger; also, a very kind person.

Origin: Greek angelos (messenger)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A herb with fragrant leaves, used in cooking.

Origin: Greek basilikon (royal)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A large animal with one or two humps, used in deserts to carry loads.

Origin: Greek kamēlos

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A waterway dug across land for boats or for watering crops.

Origin: Latin canalis (pipe, channel)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

To do with citizens; also, polite.

Origin: Latin civilis, from civis (citizen)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

Willing to cause pain or suffering.

Origin: Latin crudelis

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

The same in number, size or value.

Origin: Latin aequalis, from aequus (level, even)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

Coming at the end; last.

Origin: Latin finalis, from finis (end)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A building where people pay to stay overnight.

Origin: French hôtel

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A precious stone, such as a diamond.

Origin: Anglo-French juel

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A slip of paper or other material attached to something to tell what it is.

Origin: Old French label (ribbon)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

Having a flat, even surface; also, a height or stage.

Origin: Latin libella (a builder's level)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A piece of metal with a design, given as an award.

Origin: Italian medaglia

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A shiny, hard material such as iron, gold or copper.

Origin: Greek metallon (mine)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A small copy of something; also, a person who wears clothes to show them off.

Origin: Latin modulus (small measure)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A long written story about made-up people and events; also, new and unusual.

Origin: Italian novella (short story)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A flat piece forming part of a door, wall or other surface; also, a small group who discuss or judge something.

Origin: Old French panel (piece of cloth)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A lever pushed with the foot, as on a bicycle or piano.

Origin: Latin pedalis, from pes, ped- (foot)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

One of the colored parts of a flower.

Origin: Greek petalon (leaf)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A student; also, the dark opening in the center of the eye.

Origin: Latin pupillus (orphan, ward)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

To do with a king or queen.

Origin: Latin regalis

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

The hard outer covering of an egg, nut or some animals, such as snails and turtles.

Origin: Old English sciell

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

The ability to do something well, from training or practice.

Origin: Old Norse skil (knowledge)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

Little in size or amount.

Origin: Old English smæl

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

To notice an odor through the nose; also, an odor.

Origin: Middle English smellen

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A small, slow animal with a soft body and a spiral shell.

Origin: Old English snægl

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

To say or write the letters of a word in order; also, a word or words believed to have magic power.

Origin: Anglo-French espeller (to spell out); the magic sense is from Old English spel (talk, tale)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A seat without a back or arms.

Origin: Old English stōl

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A cloth used for drying things, especially the body.

Origin: Anglo-French tuaille

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A speech sound made with the mouth open, or a letter for it, such as a, e, i, o, u.

Origin: Latin vocalis (having a voice)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A living thing that can move and must eat to live, such as a dog, bird or fish.

Origin: Latin animal, from anima (breath, soul)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A grass such as wheat, oats or rice whose grain is eaten; also, a breakfast food made from grain.

Origin: Latin Cerealis, from Ceres, the Roman goddess of farming

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A small building or room for prayer and worship.

Origin: Late Latin cappella

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A shelter for a dog.

Origin: Latin canis (dog)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A hard, silver-white metal; also, a US or Canadian coin worth five cents.

Origin: Swedish, short for German Kupfernickel

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

Something wrapped up to be mailed or carried.

Origin: Old French parcelle (small part)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A tool for writing or drawing, made of graphite in wood.

Origin: Latin penicillus (paintbrush)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

British word for gasoline, the fuel used in many cars.

Origin: French pétrole, from Latin petra (rock) and oleum (oil)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

An open shoe held on the foot by straps.

Origin: Greek sandalion

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A place where people go to learn.

Origin: Greek scholē (leisure, discussion)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A sound, movement or light that gives a message or warning.

Origin: Latin signum (sign)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A curve that winds around a center point, getting wider or narrower.

Origin: Latin spira (coil)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

To go from one place to another, especially on a journey.

Origin: Middle English travailen (to toil)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A passage that goes under the ground or through a hill.

Origin: Old French tonel (cask)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

Very pleasing to look at, hear or think about.

Origin: Beauty + -ful

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

The city where a country's or state's government is based; also, a capital letter, such as A or B.

Origin: Latin capitalis, from caput (head)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A chewy sweet made from sugar, butter and milk; also, burnt sugar used to color and flavour food.

Origin: French, from Spanish caramelo

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A festival with parades, music and costumes; also, a traveling fair with rides and games.

Origin: Italian carnevale

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A narrow stretch of water between two larger areas of water; also, a television station.

Origin: Latin canalis (pipe, channel)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A time of celebration, or a series of special events such as concerts.

Origin: Latin festivus (festive)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A place where sick or injured people are cared for.

Origin: Latin hospitalis (to do with guests)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A diary or written record kept regularly; also, a magazine about a special subject.

Origin: Old French jurnal (daily), from Latin diurnalis

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A natural solid substance found in rocks and the earth, such as quartz or salt.

Origin: Medieval Latin minerale

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

Found in nature and not made by people.

Origin: Latin naturalis

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A small animal with a bushy tail that lives in trees and eats nuts.

Origin: Greek skiouros, from skia (shadow) and oura (tail)

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04

A stream of water falling from a high place.

Origin: Water + fall

Source: Merriam-Webster, checked 2026-11-04