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)

Springe, sprinj, n. a snare with a spring-noose: a gin.—v.t. to catch in a springe.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

"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

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 Browning, Elizabeth Barrett

Did Rochester know of the springe set to catch Overbury?

From She Stands Accused by MacClure, Victor