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

“Never tell me of your points of honour,” said Touchwood, raising his voice altogether above the general tone of polite conversation—“all humbug, Captain MacTurk—mere hair-traps to springe woodcocks—men of sense break through them.”

From St. Ronan's Well by Sir Walter Scott

The slighter the strain on the springe, the more delicately can its mechanism be set.

From The Art of Travel Shifts and Contrivances Available in Wild Countries by Sir Francis Galton

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

From Rookwood by William Harrison Ainsworth

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 H. C. (Hans Christian) Andersen

But set a springe for him, “mio ben,” My only good, my first last love!—

From The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Volume IV by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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 George Henry Makins

They had wintered it and springed it, and clung to it through bright days and dark.

From Four Girls and a Compact by Annie Hamilton Donnell

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 Stephen Sydney Reynolds

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 Sir Walter Scott

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 Samuel Smiles

Companies like Caterpillar and Cummins are raising production of generators critical as backup-power options for data centers springing up all over the world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Because springing for and maintaining a fleet of its own is costly, ICE has historically outsourced its deportation flights to private companies or used military and Coast Guard vessels.

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026

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

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

Her hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, blonde strands springing free in every direction.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day