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

Gospatrick! the wittol! the woodcock! looking at the springe, and then coolly putting his head therein.

From Hereward, the Last of the English by Kingsley, Charles

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)

"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

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

Or light or dark, or short or tall, She sets a springe to snare them all; All 's one to her—above her fan She 'd make sweet eyes at Caliban.

From Handy Dictionary of Poetical Quotations by Various

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

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

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

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

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

From Four Girls and a Compact by Donnell, Annie Hamilton

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 there’s a strong chance something will go wrong during many of those vacations, which makes a convincing case for buying a travel-insurance policy — especially if you’ll be springing for a pricey trip.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

Recognising those challenges, efforts to support new music are springing up around the UK.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 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

The windows were broken and sagging and weeds were growing up between the floorboards, and even one old rusted cookstove had fireweed springing from the firebox.

From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford