Adjacent Words

Trap stairs definitions

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Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Trap Trap, n. [OE. trappe, AS. treppe; akin to OD. trappe, OHG. trapo; probably fr. the root of E. tramp, as that which is trod upon: cf. F. trappe, which is trod upon: cf. F. trappe, which perhaps influenced the English word.] 1. A machine or contrivance that shuts suddenly, as with a spring, used for taking game or other animals; as, a trap for foxes. She would weep if that she saw a mouse Caught in a trap. --Chaucer. 2. Fig.: A snare; an ambush; a stratagem; any device by which one may be caught unawares. Let their table be made a snare and a trap. --Rom. xi. 9. God and your majesty Protect mine innocence, or I fall into The trap is laid for me! --Shak. 3. A wooden instrument shaped somewhat like a shoe, used in the game of trapball. It consists of a pivoted arm on one end of which is placed the ball to be thrown into the air by striking the other end. Also, a machine for throwing into the air glass balls, clay pigeons, etc., to be shot at. 4. The game of trapball. 5. A bend, sag, or partitioned chamber, in a drain, soil pipe, sewer, etc., arranged so that the liquid contents form a seal which prevents passage of air or gas, but permits the flow of liquids. 6. A place in a water pipe, pump, etc., where air accumulates for want of an outlet. 7. A wagon, or other vehicle. [Colloq.] --Thackeray. 8. A kind of movable stepladder. --Knight. Trap stairs, a staircase leading to a trapdoor. Trap tree (Bot.) the jack; -- so called because it furnishes a kind of birdlime. See 1st Jack.