Tram"mel (?), n. [F. tramail,
trémail, a net, LL. tremaculum, tremacle, a
kind of net for taking fish; L. tres three + macula a mesh.
See Three, and Mail armor.] 1. A kind of
net for catching birds, fishes, or other prey. Carew.
2. A net for confining a woman's hair.
Spenser.
3. A kind of shackle used for regulating the
motions of a horse and making him amble.
4. Fig.: Whatever impedes activity, progress, or
freedom, as a net or shackle.
[They] disdain the trammels of any sordid
contract.
Jeffrey.
5. An iron hook of various forms and sizes, used
for handing kettles and other vessels over the fire.
6. (Mech.) (a) An instrument
for drawing ellipses, one part of which consists of a cross with two
grooves at right angles to each other, the other being a beam carrying two
pins (which slide in those grooves), and also the describing pencil.
(b) A beam compass. See under Beam.
Tram"mel (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Trammeled (?) or Trammelled; p. pr. &
vb. n. Trammeling, or Trammelling.]
1. To entangle, as in a net; to catch. [R.]
Shak.
2. To confine; to hamper; to shackle.
Tram"mel (?), n. [F. tramail,
trémail, a net, LL. tremaculum, tremacle, a
kind of net for taking fish; L. tres three + macula a mesh.
See Three, and Mail armor.] 1. A kind of
net for catching birds, fishes, or other prey. Carew.
2. A net for confining a woman's hair.
Spenser.
3. A kind of shackle used for regulating the
motions of a horse and making him amble.
4. Fig.: Whatever impedes activity, progress, or
freedom, as a net or shackle.
[They] disdain the trammels of any sordid
contract.
Jeffrey.
5. An iron hook of various forms and sizes, used
for handing kettles and other vessels over the fire.
6. (Mech.) (a) An instrument
for drawing ellipses, one part of which consists of a cross with two
grooves at right angles to each other, the other being a beam carrying two
pins (which slide in those grooves), and also the describing pencil.
(b) A beam compass. See under Beam.
Tram"mel (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Trammeled (?) or Trammelled; p. pr. &
vb. n. Trammeling, or Trammelling.]
1. To entangle, as in a net; to catch. [R.]
Shak.
2. To confine; to hamper; to shackle.
