tram

n. (Mech.) Same as Trammel, n., 6. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Sp. trama weft, or F. trame. ] A silk thread formed of two or more threads twisted together, used especially for the weft, or cross threads, of the best quality of velvets and silk goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prov. E. tram a coal wagon, the shaft of a cart or carriage, a beam or bar; probably of Scand, origin; cf. OSw. tråm, trum, a beam, OD. drom, Prov. & OHG. tram. ] 1. A four-wheeled truck running on rails, and used in a mine, as for carrying coal or ore. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The shaft of a cart. [ Prov. Eng. ] De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One of the rails of a tramway. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A car on a horse railroad. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Tram car, a car made to run on a tramway, especially a street railway car. --
Tram plate, a flat piece of iron laid down as a rail. --
Tram pot (Milling), the step and support for the lower end of the spindle of a millstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To operate, or conduct the business of, a tramway; to travel by tramway. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. [ L., woof. ] (Bot.) The loosely woven substance which lines the chambers within the gleba in certain Gasteromycetes. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. (Mining) To wash, as tin ore, with a shovel in a frame fitted for the purpose. Smart. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Trammeled r Trammelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Trammeling, or Trammelling. ] 1. To entangle, as in a net; to catch. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To confine; to hamper; to shackle. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A net for confining a woman's hair. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A kind of shackle used for regulating the motions of a horse and making him amble. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Fig.: Whatever impedes activity, progress, or freedom, as a net or shackle. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ They ] disdain the trammels of any sordid contract. Jeffrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. An iron hook of various forms and sizes, used for handing kettles and other vessels over the fire. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]