trammel
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tram·mel
(trăm′əl)n.
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 drawing 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.
tr.v. tram·meled, tram·mel·ing, tram·mels or tram·melled or tram·mel·ling
1. To enmesh in a fishing net.
2. To hinder the activity or free movement of.
[Middle English tramale, a kind of net, from Old French tramail, from Late Latin trēmaculum : Latin trēs, three; see trei- in Indo-European roots + Latin macula, mesh.]
tram′mel·er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
trammel
(ˈtræməl)n
1. (often plural) a hindrance to free action or movement
2. (Fishing) Also called: trammel net a fishing net in three sections, the two outer nets having a large mesh and the middle one a fine mesh
3. (Hunting) rare a fowling net
4. (Horse Training, Riding & Manège) US a fetter or shackle, esp one used in teaching a horse to amble
5. (Tools) a device for drawing ellipses consisting of a flat sheet of metal, plastic, or wood having a cruciform slot in which run two pegs attached to a beam. The free end of the beam describes an ellipse
6. (Tools) (sometimes plural) another name for beam compass
7. (Mechanical Engineering) Also called: tram a gauge for setting up machines correctly
8. (Cookery) a device set in a fireplace to support cooking pots
vb (tr) , -els, -elling or -elled, -els, -eling or -eled
9. to hinder or restrain
10. (Hunting) to catch or ensnare
11. (Mechanical Engineering) to produce an accurate setting of (a machine adjustment), as with a trammel
[C14: from Old French tramail three-mesh net, from Late Latin trēmaculum, from Latin trēs three + macula hole, mesh in a net]
ˈtrammeller, ˈtrammeler n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
tram•mel
(ˈtræm əl)n., v. -meled, -mel•ing (esp. Brit.) -melled, -mel•ling. n.
1. Usu., trammels. a hindrance or impediment to free action; restraint.
2. an instrument for drawing ellipses.
3. a device used to align or adjust parts of a machine.
4. a net for catching birds or fish, esp. a three-layered net in which fish are trapped in two or more layers of mesh.
5. a contrivance hung in a fireplace to support pots or kettles.
6. a fetter or shackle, esp. one used in training a horse to amble.
v.t. 7. to restrain in trammels.
8. to catch or entangle in or as if in a net.
[1325–75; Middle English tramayle < Middle French tramail, variant of tremail three-mesh net < Late Latin trēmaculum= Latin trē(s) three + macula mesh]
tram′mel•er; esp. Brit., tram′mel•ler, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
trammel
Past participle: trammelled
Gerund: trammelling
| Imperative |
|---|
| trammel |
| trammel |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  trammel - a fishing net with three layers; the outer two are coarse mesh and the loose inner layer is fine meshfishing net, fishnet - a net that will enclose fish when it is pulled in |
| 2. |  trammel - an adjustable pothook set in a fireplacepothook - an S-shaped hook to suspend a pot over a fire | |
| 3. |  trammel - a restraint that is used to teach a horse to ambleconstraint, restraint - a device that retards something's motion; "the car did not have proper restraints fitted" | |
| 4. |  trammel - a restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner)ball and chain - heavy iron ball attached to a prisoner by a chain handcuff, handlock, manacle, cuff - shackle that consists of a metal loop that can be locked around the wrist; usually used in pairs constraint, restraint - a device that retards something's motion; "the car did not have proper restraints fitted" | |
| Verb | 1. |  trammel - catch in or as if in a trap; "The men trap foxes"capture, catch - capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping; "I caught a rabbit in the trap today" gin - trap with a snare; "gin game" |
| 2. |  trammel - place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends"tie - limit or restrict to; "I am tied to UNIX"; "These big jets are tied to large airports" gate - restrict (school boys') movement to the dormitory or campus as a means of punishment draw a line, draw the line - reasonably object (to) or set a limit (on); "I draw the line when it comes to lending money to friends!" hamper, cramp, halter, strangle - prevent the progress or free movement of; "He was hampered in his efforts by the bad weather"; "the imperialist nation wanted to strangle the free trade between the two small countries" clamp down, crack down - repress or suppress (something regarded as undesirable); "The police clamped down on illegal drugs" inhibit - limit the range or extent of; "Contact between the young was inhibited by strict social customs" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
trammel
nounSomething that limits or restricts:
1. To gain control of or an advantage over by or as if by trapping:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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