Main Entry:: ¹tram·mel
Pronunciation:: \ˈtra-məl\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English tramayle, a kind of net, from Old French tramail, from Late Latin tremaculum, from Latin tres three + macula mesh, spot — more at three
Date:: 14th century

1: a net for catching birds or fish ; especially : one having three layers with the middle one finer-meshed and slack so that fish passing through carry some of the center net through the coarser opposite net and are trapped2: an adjustable pothook for a fireplace crane3: a shackle used for making a horse amble4: something impeding activity, progress, or freedom : restraint —usually used in plural5 a: an instrument for drawing ellipses b: a compass for drawing large circles that consists of a beam with two sliding parts —usually used in plural c: any of various gauges used for aligning or adjusting machine parts

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