Verb

peilen

Translation

to gauge, to aim for, to get, to take a bearing on

Der Seemann peilt die Küste an.

The sailor takes a bearing on the coast.

Ich peile eine gute Note an.

I'm aiming for a good grade.

Ich peil das einfach nicht.

I just don't get it.

((sth.)) ((an)) to aim for sth., take a bearing on sth. Der Seemann peilt die Küste an.

messen (to measure), zielen (to aim), verstehen (to understand)

From Dutch 'peilen' (to sound, gauge), related to German 'Pegel' (level, gauge).

Think of 'peeling' back the layers of a problem to 'peil' (understand) it. Or aiming a 'pellet' gun to 'peil' (aim at) a target.