trammel
UK: ˈtræməl | US: ˈtræməl
n. 1. A restriction or impediment to freedom of action.
n. 2. A net for catching birds or fish, typically with three layers.
vt. 1. To restrict or hamper someone or something.
trammel = tram<net> + mel<evil> (archaic)
- tram <net>: From Old French tramail, a fishing net, derived from Late Latin tremaculum (a three-layered net).
- mel <evil> (obsolete): Rarely used in modern English, but historically linked to Old English mǣl (mark, measure) or Latin malus (bad), suggesting entanglement or hindrance.
Etymology Origin:
The word trammel traces back to the Latin tremaculum, a net with three layers used in fishing. Over time, it evolved metaphorically in Middle English to mean "a restraint" or "hindrance," reflecting the idea of being caught like prey in a net. The archaic mel component may hint at the negative connotation of obstruction, though its direct influence is debated.
The strict regulations trammeled the company's growth.
Fishermen spread the trammel across the river to catch trout.
She refused to let tradition trammel her creativity.
The trammel’s intricate design ensured no fish could escape.
Bureaucratic red tape often trammels innovation.