peal (n.) Look up peal at
mid-14c., "a ringing of a bell" especially as a call to church service, generally considered a shortened form of appeal (n.), with the notion of a bell that "summons" people to church (compare similar evolution in peach (v.)). Extended sense of "loud ringing of bells" is first recorded 1510s.
peal (v.) Look up peal at
1630s, from peal (n.). Related: Pealed; pealing.