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spancel

[ span-suhl ]
/ ˈspæn səl /
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noun
a noosed rope with which to hobble an animal, especially a horse or cow.
verb (used with object), span·celed, span·cel·ing or (especially British) span·celled, span·cel·ling.
to fetter with or as with a spancel.
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Origin of spancel

1600–10; <Low German spansel, derivative of spannen to stretch; see span2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spancel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spancel

spancel
/ (ˈspænsəl) /

noun
a length of rope for hobbling an animal, esp a horse or cow
verb -cels, -celling or -celled or US -cels, -celing or -celed
(tr) to hobble (an animal) with a loose rope

Word Origin for spancel

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