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

Off she flew; but, however, it happened, before she was aware, she got entangled in a springe of horse-hair, which some boys had set upon a bough.

From A Christmas Greeting by Andersen, H. C. (Hans Christian)

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

From Rookwood by Ainsworth, William Harrison

We hold our Saxon woodcock in the springe, But he begins to flutter.

From Queen Mary and Harold by Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson, Baron

The forest lay one side, the river, now but a shallow sluggish stream, lay the other; ’twas a cleft stick and the springe tightened.

From Gathering of Brother Hilarius by Fairless, Michael

I clearly remember looking with envy and admiration at Bewicke’s woodcuts of traps, e.g. that of the woodcock springe, and another of a sieve propped up over grain sprinkled as bait.

From Springtime and Other Essays by Darwin, Francis, Sir