While peal and peel may sound similar, they have entirely distinct meanings. A peal refers to a loud, prolonged ringing of bells, often associated with celebrations or announcements. Conversely, to peel something means to remove the outer covering or skin from fruits, vegetables, or other layered objects.

'Peel' is a noun or a verb referring to the outer covering of something, like a fruit or vegetable, or the act of removing such a layer. 'Peal' is most commonly a noun referring to a loud sound or succession of sounds.

Both peal and peel can function as a noun or a verb. That being said, they are not interchangeable. Peal refers to sound. Peel refers to the skin of a fruit or vegetable, or more generally, the outside layer of something and that layer’s removal.

A peal (1) a ringing of a set of bells, (2) a loud burst of noise. A peel is the skin or rind of a fruit or vegetable. So bananas and oranges have peels, and laughter and thunder come in peals.