trammeled or trammelled; trammeling or trammelling ˈtra-mə-liŋ How to pronounce trammel (audio)
ˈtram-liŋ

transitive verb

1
: to catch or hold in or as if in a net : enmesh
2
: to prevent or impede the free play of : confine

trammel

2 of 2

noun

1
: something impeding activity, progress, or freedom : restraint
usually used in plural
2
: a net for catching birds or fish
especially : one having three layers with the middle one finer-meshed and slack so that fish passing through carry some of the center net through the coarser opposite net and are trapped
3
: an adjustable pothook for a fireplace crane
4
: a shackle used for making a horse amble
5
a
: an instrument for drawing ellipses
b
: a compass for drawing large circles that consists of a beam with two sliding parts
usually used in plural
c
: any of various gauges used for aligning or adjusting machine parts

Did you know?

A trammel net traditionally has three layers, with the middle one finer-meshed and slack so that fish passing through the first net carry some of the center net through the coarser third net and are trapped. Appropriately, trammel traces back through the Middle English tramayle and the Old French tramail to the Late Latin tremaculum, which comes from Latin tres, meaning "three," and macula, meaning "mesh." Today, the plural trammels is synonymous with restraints, and trammel is also used as a verb meaning "to confine" or "to enmesh." You may also run across the adjective untrammeled, meaning "not confined or limited."

Choose the Right Synonym for trammel

hamper, trammel, clog, fetter, shackle, manacle mean to hinder or impede in moving, progressing, or acting.

hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence.

hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net.

rules that trammel the artist's creativity

clog usually implies a slowing by something extraneous or encumbering.

a court system clogged by frivolous suits

fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost.

a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

shackle and manacle are stronger than fetter and suggest total loss of freedom.

a mind shackled by stubborn prejudice
a people manacled by tyranny

Examples of trammel in a Sentence

Verb laws that trammel our rights as citizens years after his death, she was still trammeled by inconsolable grief for her deceased husband Noun students and parents who want to throw off the trammels of outdated school policies
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Diggs was trammeled by knee issues throughout 2023 as the 26-year-old was sidelined for 15 games after tearing his left ACL. Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tramayle, a kind of net, from Old French tramail, from Late Latin tremaculum, from Latin tres three + macula mesh, spot — more at three

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of trammel was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Trammel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trammel. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

trammel

1 of 2 noun
: something preventing free movement or activity
usually used in plural

trammel

2 of 2 verb
trammeled or trammelled; trammeling or trammelling
-(ə-)liŋ
: to prevent or restrict the free movement of

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