springe

American  

[sprinj] / sprɪndʒ /

noun

1. a snare for catching small game.

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verb (used with object)

springed, springing

1. to catch in a springe.

verb (used without object)

springed, springing

1. to set a springe or springes.

springe British  

/ sprɪndʒ /

noun

1. a snare set to catch small wild animals or birds and consisting of a loop attached to a bent twig or branch under tension

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verb

1. (intr) to set such a snare

2. (tr) to catch (small wild animals or birds) with such a snare

Etymology

Origin of springe

1200–50; Middle English, variant of sprenge a snare, literally, something that is made to spring, derivative of sprengen to make spring, Old English sprengan, causative of springan to spring

Example Sentences

You are now fairly trapped at last—caught like the woodcock in your own springe.

From Rookwood by Ainsworth, William Harrison

This was a springe to catch the "wimmen folks, God bless them."

From Eugene Field, a Study in Heredity and Contradictions — Volume 2 by Thompson, Slason

I tried the springe several times for rabbits, and found it answer; but the poacher cannot use it because it is so conspicuous.

From The Amateur Poacher by Jefferies, Richard

"Snipes!" says Bridget; "deft art thou, fosterling, to take them without either springe or stonebow, and they all flittering like butterflies on a March day."

From The Sundering Flood by Morris, May

"Stonehenge" says that the springe just described was used for snaring woodcocks, in the following mariner:

From Practical Taxidermy A manual of instruction to the amateur in collecting, preserving, and setting up natural history specimens of all kinds. To which is added a chapter upon the pictorial arrangement of museums. With additional instructions in modelling and artistic taxidermy. by Browne, Montagu