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

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From A History of English Poetry: an Unpublished Continuation by Warton, Thomas

It is said that a springe of somewhat similar construction was used for pheasants.

From The Amateur Poacher by Jefferies, Richard

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

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

The springe was probably last employed by the mole-catchers.

From The Amateur Poacher by Jefferies, Richard

"Snipes!" says Bridget; "deft art thou, fosterling, to take them without either springe or stonebow, and they all flittering like butterflies on a March day."

From The Sundering Flood by Morris, May