ˈeɪndʒəl n. 1 a an
attendant or
messenger of
God. b a
conventional representation of
this in
human form with wings. c an attendant
spirit (evil angel;
guardian angel). d a
member of
the lowest
order of the
ninefold celestial hierarchy (see ORDER). 2 a a
very virtuous person. b an
obliging person (be an angel
and answer the door). 3 an
old English coin bearing the
figure of the
archangel Michael piercing the
dragon. 4 sl. a
financial backer of an
enterprise,
esp. in the
theatre. 5 an
unexplained radar echo. øangel
cake a very
light sponge cake. angel-fish
any of
various fish, esp. Pterophyllum scalare, with
large dorsal and
ventral fins. angel-shark =
MONKFISH 2. angels-on-horseback a
savoury of oysters wrapped in slices of
bacon. [ME f. OF angele f. eccl.L
angelus f. Gk aggelos messenger]