Tramail

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A fishing net of three layers designed to catch fish by trapping them in the central mesh ; to catch or trap someone or something ; to restrict or impede movement or progress
2. A three-ply net used in fishing where outer meshes trap prey in the middle layer ; to ensnare or capture ; to hinder or constrain
3. A fishing apparatus consisting of three nets woven together to entangle catch ; to snare or seize ; to obstruct or limit freedom of action

Etymology: A tramail is a fishing net whose name describes its construction. It comes from Old French "tresmail", built from "tres", meaning three, and "maille", meaning mesh or loop. The French "maille" traces back to Latin "macula", which originally meant a spot or blemish and later came to describe the small openings of a net. The three layers work together. Two outer walls of wide mesh enclose a looser, finer inner panel. When a fish swims into the net, it pushes the inner panel through the outer openings, forming a bag that holds it in place.

Synonyms: trammel