What is the Latin word for eel?

The usual Latin words for “eel” are anguīlla, ēlābor. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“eel” in Latin

anguīllaeel; small snake ēlāborto slip or glide away; to escape; to elapse

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

eel

anguilla (*anguilla Muraena, Linn.). He is as slippery as an eel, anguilla est, elabitur (Plaut.). Fishing for eels, *captura anguillarum. Eel-pond, anguillarium (Gloss.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for eel?: The usual Latin words for “eel” are anguīlla, ēlābor. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.