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spancel

American  
[span-suhl] / ˈspæn səl /

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 British  
/ ˈspænsəl /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of spancel

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"Do not forget the spancel," said the woman with the child on her knees; "take the inside one."

From The Celtic Twilight by W. B. (William Butler) Yeats

As my horse was straying toward the west side of the clearing I went to fetch him back and spancel him near the fort.

From A Virginia Scout by D. C. Hutchison

That night, according to my custom, I spanceled my horse at a considerable distance from my camp.

From A Virginia Scout by D. C. Hutchison

We spanceled our horses in a tiny opening well surrounded by woods.

From A Virginia Scout by D. C. Hutchison

Isn't it a bad story for me to be wearing out my days beside you the same as a spancelled goat.

From Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays by Various

A fine pond of water being near, we there spancelled our horses and lay down for the night.

From Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia by Thomas Mitchell

I’m in the dowie dumps— Maundering and moonging like a spancelled cow: It’s over dour and dearn for me in this loaning On a dowly day.

From Krindlesyke by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

I followed up a rocky hill to the house above, and there found Flurry and Slipper engaged in the patriarchal task of driving two brace of coupled and spancelled goats into a shed.

From Some Experiences of an Irish R.M. by Martin Ross

The horses, although tethered and close spancelled, could not be secured, even thus.

From Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia by Thomas Mitchell

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