spancel

[span-suhl]

noun

1. a noosed rope with which to hobble an animal, especially a horse or cow.

verb (used with object)

spanceled, spanceling , spancelled, spancelling .

1. to fetter with or as with a spancel.

spancel

/ ˈspænsəl /

noun

1. a length of rope for hobbling an animal, esp a horse or cow

verb

1. (tr) to hobble (an animal) with a loose rope

Word History and Origins

Origin of spancel¹

1600–10; < Low German spansel, derivative of spannen to stretch; span ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of spancel¹

C17: from Low German spansel, from spannen to stretch; see _span ²

Example Sentences

Katharine Tynan’s “The Death Spancel and Others” is characteristically elegant, as well as an important work of literary recovery.

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It was called the Spancel —after the rope with which domestic animals were hobbled —and there were several of them in the secret coffers of the Old Ones.

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The way to use a Spancel was this.

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Queen Morgause stood in the moonlight, drawing the Spancel through her fingers.

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Perhaps the Spancel had a strength in it Perhaps it was because she was twice his age, so that she had twice the power of his weapons.

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