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

See Examples For:

springe springed springing

Nights were short, and daies were long, Blossoms on the hauthorns hong; Philomel, night-musickes kinge, Tolde the comming of the springe, &c.

From A History of English Poetry: an Unpublished Continuation by Warton, Thomas

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

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

From Rookwood by Ainsworth, William Harrison

Fro the seconde, as bokes sein, The moiste dropes of the reyn Descenden into Middilerthe, And tempreth it to sed and Erthe, And doth to springe grass and flour.

From Confessio Amantis, or, Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins by Macaulay, G. C. (George Campbell)

When May comes, Whan that I here the smale foules singe And that the floures ginne for to springe, Farwel my studie, as lasting that sesoun.

From Chaucer and His Times by Hadow, Grace E.

Witness the beautiful description: "All to once the nor'easter springed out from the land, an' afore us could down-haul the mainsail, the sea wer feather-white an' skatting in over the bows."

From A Poor Man's House by Reynolds, Stephen Sydney

A post-chaise is still a phenomenon in Chagford, the roads and lanes leading to it being so steep and rugged as to be ill adapted for springed vehicles of any sort.

From The Life of Thomas Telford; civil engineer with an introductory history of roads and travelling in Great Britain by Smiles, Samuel

You have springed your dottrel, I find, and what is the consequence?—why, that there will be hue and cry after you presently.

From Redgauntlet by Scott, Walter, Sir

Although somewhat highly springed, the vehicle is so well arranged and padded, that the occupants are seldom hurt by striking against the sides with rough jolting, unless quite helpless.

From Surgical Experiences in South Africa, 1899-1900 Being Mainly a Clinical Study of the Nature and Effects of Injuries Produced by Bullets of Small Calibre by Makins, George Henry

It’s springed a leak, an’ the water’s got down my neck.”

From Children of the Mist by Phillpotts, Eden

The movement has spread beyond the capital, with smaller demonstrations springing up Wednesday in major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru and Patna.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

Communities have lashed out at data centers springing up across the country, fueling an anti-AI movement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

But the more unavailable your manager is, the less likely they will be looking for you — or springing a last-minute assignment on you.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

The field is more crowded now, with Bowlero, Top Golf, and other eat-and-play concepts springing up in many of the same areas.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026

“Do you hear that?” the man said, springing to his feet.

From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill