trammel

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 ]

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 ]

a. (Man.) Having blazes, or white marks, on the fore and hind foot of one side, as if marked by trammels; -- said of a horse. [ Written also trammelled. ] [ 1913 Webster ]