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

The wily intriguer was for once caught in his own springe.

From Hansford: A Tale of Bacon's Rebellion by St. George Tucker

I am the scape-goat!—I!—Be it so!—Should she be caught in her own springe, who can say I am to blame?

From Anna St. Ives by Thomas Holcroft

This was a springe to catch the "wimmen folks, God bless them."

From Eugene Field, a Study in Heredity and Contradictions — Volume 2 by Slason Thompson

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

From The Amateur Poacher by Richard Jefferies

"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 Montagu Browne

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

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

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

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

From Children of the Mist by Eden Phillpotts

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

While a cheaper, older device is tempting, springing for a more recent generation will give you more years of life.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 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

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

There are big new houses springing up all around this area, but since we live in a different part of town, I’m not here enough to really notice the changes as they happen.

From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone