snare

Meanings

Noun

• A trap (especially one made from a loop of wire, string, or leather).
• A mental or psychological trap.
• A loop of cord used in obstetric cases, to hold or to pull a fetus from the mother animal.
• A similar looped instrument formerly used to remove tumours etc.
• A set of stiff wires held under tension against the lower skin of a drum to create a rattling sound.
• A snare drum.

Verb

• To catch or hold, especially with a loop.
• To ensnare.

Origin

• From Middle English snare, from Old English snearu, sneare, from Proto-Germanic *snarhǭ ("a sling; loop; noose"). Cognate with Old Norse snara. Also related to German Schnur and Dutch snaar, snoer.