Trap
(Trap), n. [OE. trappe, AS. treppe; akin to OD. trappe, OHG. trapo; probably fr. the root of E.
tramp, as that which is trod upon: cf. F. trappe, which is trod upon: cf. F. trappe, which perhaps influenced
the English word.]
1. A machine or contrivance that shuts suddenly, as with a spring, used for taking game or other animals; as,
a trap for foxes.
She would weep if that she saw a mouse
Caught in a trap.
Chaucer. 2. Fig.: A snare; an ambush; a stratagem; any device by which one may be caught unawares.
Let their table be made a snare and a trap.
Rom. xi. 9.
God and your majesty
Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
The trap is laid for me!
Shak. 3. A wooden instrument shaped somewhat like a shoe, used in the game of trapball. It consists of a
pivoted arm on one end of which is placed the ball to be thrown into the air by striking the other end.
Also, a machine for throwing into the air glass balls, clay pigeons, etc., to be shot at.
4. The game of trapball.
5. A bend, sag, or partitioned chamber, in a drain, soil pipe, sewer, etc., arranged so that the liquid contents
form a seal which prevents passage of air or gas, but permits the flow of liquids.
6. A place in a water pipe, pump, etc., where air accumulates for want of an outlet.
7. A wagon, or other vehicle. [Colloq.] Thackeray.
8. A kind of movable stepladder. Knight.
Trap stairs, a staircase leading to a trapdoor. — Trap tree (Bot.) the jack; - - so called because it
furnishes a kind of birdlime. See 1st Jack.
Trap
(Trap) v. t. [AS. treppan. See Trap a snare.]
1. To catch in a trap or traps; as, to trap foxes.
2. Fig.: To insnare; to take by stratagem; to entrap. "I trapped the foe." Dryden.
3. To provide with a trap; as, to trap a drain; to trap a sewer pipe. See 4th Trap, 5.
Trap
(Trap), v. i. To set traps for game; to make a business of trapping game; as, to trap for beaver.
Trapan
(Tra*pan") n. [OF. trappan. See Trap, and cf. Trepan a snare.] A snare; a stratagem; a trepan.
See 3d Trepan. South.
Trapan
(Tra*pan"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Trapanned ; p. pr. & vb. n. Trapanning.] To insnare; to catch
by stratagem; to entrap; to trepan.
Having some of his people trapanned at Baldivia.
Anson. Trapanner
(Tra*pan"ner) n. One who trapans, or insnares.
Trapball
(Trap"ball`) n. An old game of ball played with a trap. See 4th Trap, 4.
Trapdoor
(Trap"door`) n.
