SNARE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sneare, probably from Old Norse snara; akin to Old High German snuor cord and perhaps to Greek narkē numbness Date: before 12th century 1. a. a contrivance often consisting of a noose for entangling birds or mammals, trap , gin , b. something by which one is entangled, involved in difficulties, or impeded, something deceptively attractive, 2. \probably from Dutch snaar, literally, cord; akin to Old High German snuor] one of the catgut strings or metal spirals of a ~ drum, ~ drum , a surgical instrument consisting usually of a wire loop constricted by a mechanism in the handle and used for removing tissue masses (as tonsils), II. transitive verb (~d; snaring) Date: 14th century 1. to capture by or as if by use of a ~, to win or attain by artful or skillful maneuvers, to entangle or hold as if in a ~ , see: catch ~r noun