trammel

(traməl)

noun

    1. a fishing net consisting of two outer layers of coarse mesh and a loosely hung middle layer of fine mesh
    2. a fowling net
  1. a kind of shackle for a horse, esp. one to teach ambling
  2. something that confines, restrains, or shackles
  3. a device with links or openings at different heights for hanging a pothook in a fireplace
  4. an instrument for drawing ellipses
  5. any of several devices for adjusting or aligning parts of a machine

Origin: ME tramaile < MFr tramail, a net < ML tremaculum, kind of fishing net < L tres, three + macula, a mesh

transitive verb trammeled or trammelled, trammeling or trammelling

  1. to entangle in or as in a trammel
  2. to confine, restrain, or shackle

Related Forms:

See trammel in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A shackle used to teach a horse to amble.
  2. Something that restricts activity, expression, or progress; a restraint.
  3. A vertically set fishing net of three layers, consisting of a finely meshed net between two nets of coarse mesh.
  4. An instrument for describing ellipses.
  5. An instrument for gauging and adjusting parts of a machine; a tram.
  6. An arrangement of links and a hook in a fireplace for raising and lowering a kettle.
transitive verb tram·meled or tram·melled, tram·mel·ing or tram·mel·ling, tram·mels
  1. To enmesh in or as if in a fishing net. See Synonyms at hamper1.
  2. To hinder the activity or free movement of.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English tramale, a kind of net

Origin: , from Old French tramail

Origin: , from Late Latin trēmaculum

Origin: : Latin trēs, three; see trei- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + Latin macula, mesh

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Related Forms:

  • tramˈmel·er noun

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