trammel

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a fishing net with three layers; the outer two are coarse mesh and the loose inner layer is fine mesh
  2. noun an adjustable pothook set in a fireplace
  3. noun a restraint that is used to teach a horse to amble

Etymology

From Middle English trameyle, from Old French tramail (“net for catching fish”), from Late Latin tremaculum, from tri- (“tri-”) + macula (“spot, speck; mesh, cell”). Cognate with Italian tramaglio (“trammel”), Spanish trasmallo (“drift net”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

trammel net

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