Trap

trap, n. an instrument for snaring animals: an ambush: a stratagem: a contrivance for hindering the pa age of foul air from a waste-pipe, .: a trap-door: any rickety structure: a carriage, a vehicle: ( slang ) a policeman.— v.t. to catch in a trap:— pr.p. trap′ping; pa.t. and pa.p. trapped.— ns. Trap′-ball , an old game played with a ball or bat and trap; Trap′-door , a door in a floor shutting like the catch of a trap; Trap′-fall , a trap-door which gives way beneath the feet; Trap′per , one who traps animals for their fur, .; Trap′pine , the state of being trappy or unsafe; Trap′ping ; Trap′-stair , a stair or kind of ladder surmounted by a trap-door.— adj. Trap′py , treacherous. [A.S. træppe ; cog. with Old High Ger. trap a , a snare (whence Fr. trappe , by which the Eng. word has been modified).]