Word of the Day: Peal
After a wedding, it is common to hear the bells of a church or chapel peal out to announce to the world that two more people have made a lifetime commitment to each other.
Although Japan is not a Christian country, many Japanese couples choose to get married in a chapel.
Of course, it’s not a consecrated chapel. It’s built more for looks and is used for the couple to take beautiful wedding photos in front of while the bells are ringing.
When we say that bells ring, we mean that they are making noise. However, a ring is more of a generic term and has neither a positive or a negative nuance.
That’s where today’s word comes in. Peal is the loud ringing of bells, and it has a positive nuance.
Every time you hear the bells of a church or chapel loudly pealing remember it is a joyous occasion for someone, somewhere.
Please don’t make the mistake of confusing today’s word with knell which is another word used to refer to the sound of bells ringing out.
Although both refer to the ringing of bells, their meanings are entirely different.
Peal refers to the loud, happy ringing of bells and knell relates to the slow, solemn ringing of bells to announce a death; hence, we say death knell.