Chapter 64

In their motions harmony divine So smooths her charming tones that God's own ear Listens delighted.

Milton.

(c) To palliate; to gloze; as, to smooth over a fault.

(d) To give a smooth or calm appearance to.

Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm.

Milton.

(e) To ease; to regulate. Dryden.

Smooth, v. i. To flatter; to use blandishment.

Because I can not flatter and speak fair, Smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive and cog.

Shak.

Smooth"bore` (?), a. (Gun.) Having a bore of perfectly smooth surface; -- distinguished from rifled. -- n. A smoothbore firearm.

Smooth"-chinned` (?), a. Having a smooth chin; beardless. Drayton.

Smooth"en (?), v. t. To make smooth. [Obs.]

Smooth"er (?), n. One who, or that which, smooths.

Smooth"ing, a. & n. fr. Smooth, v.

Smoothing iron, an iron instrument with a polished face, for smoothing clothes; a sadiron; a flatiron. -- Smoothing plane, a short, finely set plane, for smoothing and finishing work.

Smooth"ly, adv. In a smooth manner.

Smooth"ness, n. Quality or state of being smooth.

Smooth"-spo`ken (?), a. Speaking smoothly; plausible; flattering; smooth-tongued.

Smooth"-tongued` (?), a. Having a smooth tongue; plausible; flattering.

Smore (?), v. t. To smother. See Smoor. [Obs.]

Some dying vomit blood, and some were smored.

Du Bartas.

{ ||Smor*zan"do (?), ||Smor*sa"to (?), } a. [It.] (Mus.) Growing gradually fainter and softer; dying away; morendo.

Smote (?), imp. (∧ rare p. p.) of Smite.

Smo"ter*lich (?), a. [CF. Smut.] Dirty; foul. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Smoth"er (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smothered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Smothering.] [OE. smotheren; akin to E. smoor. See Smoor.] 1. To destroy the life of by suffocation; to deprive of the air necessary for life; to cover up closely so as to prevent breathing; to suffocate; as, to smother a child.

2. To affect as by suffocation; to stife; to deprive of air by a thick covering, as of ashes, of smoke, or the like; as, to smother a fire.

3. Hence, to repress the action of; to cover from public view; to suppress; to conceal; as, to smother one's displeasure.

Smoth"er, v. i. 1. To be suffocated or stifled.

2. To burn slowly, without sufficient air; to smolder.

Smoth"er, n. [OE. smorther. See Smother, v. t.] 1. Stifling smoke; thick dust. Shak.

2. A state of suppression. [Obs.]

Not to keep their suspicions in smother.

Bacon.

Smother fly (Zoöl.), an aphid.

Smoth"er*i*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being smothery.

Smoth"er*ing*ly, adv. In a smothering manner.

Smoth"er*y (?), a. Tending to smother; stifling.

Smouch (?), v. t. [Akin to smack.] To kiss closely. [Obs.] P. Stubbes.

Smouch, v. t. [See Smutch.] To smutch; to soil; as, to smouch the face.

Smouch, n. A dark soil or stain; a smutch.

Smoul"der (?), v. i. See Smolder.

Smoul"dry (?), a. See Smoldry.

Smudge (?), n. [Cf. Dan. smuds smut, E. smutch, or smoke.] 1. A suffocating smoke. Grose.

2. A heap of damp combustibles partially ignited and burning slowly, placed on the windward side of a house, tent, or the like, in order, by the thick smoke, to keep off mosquitoes or other insects. [U. S.] Bartlett.

3. That which is smeared upon anything; a stain; a blot; a smutch; a smear.

Smudge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smudged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Smudging.] 1. To stifle or smother with smoke; to smoke by means of a smudge.

2. To smear; to smutch; to soil; to blacken with smoke.

Smudg"i*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being smudged, soiled, or blurred. C. A. Young.

Smug (?), a. [Of. Scand. or Low German origin; cf. LG. smuck, G. schmuck, Dan. smuk, OSw. smuck, smöck, and E. smock, smuggle; cf. G. schmuck ornament. See Smock.] Studiously neat or nice, especially in dress; spruce; affectedly precise; smooth and prim.

They be so smug and smooth.

Robynson (More's Utopia).

The smug and scanty draperies of his style.

De Quincey.

A young, smug, handsome holiness has no fellow.

Beau. & Fl.

Smug, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smugged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Smugging.] To make smug, or spruce. [Obs.]

Thus said, he smugged his beard, and stroked up fair.

Dryton.

Smug"gle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smuggled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Smuggling (?).] [Of Low German or Scand. origin; cf. LG. smuggeln, D. smokkelen, G. schmuggeln, Dan. smugle, Sw. smyga to introduce or convey secretly, Dan. i smug secretly, D. smuigen to eat in secret, AS. sm&?;gan to creep. See Smock.] 1. To import or export secretly, contrary to the law; to import or export without paying the duties imposed by law; as, to smuggle lace.

2. Fig.: To convey or introduce clandestinely.

Smug"gle, v. i. To import or export in violation of the customs laws.

Smug"gler (?), n. 1. One who smuggles.

2. A vessel employed in smuggling.

Smug"ly, adv. In a smug manner. [R.] Gay.

Smug"ness, n. The quality or state of being smug.

Smut (?), n. [Akin to Sw. smuts, Dan. smuds, MHG. smuz, G. schmutz, D. smet a spot or stain, smoddig, smodsig, smodderig, dirty, smodderen to smut; and probably to E. smite. See Smite, v. t., and cf. Smitt, Smutch.] 1. Foul matter, like soot or coal dust; also, a spot or soil made by such matter.

2. (Mining) Bad, soft coal, containing much earthy matter, found in the immediate locality of faults.

3. (Bot.) An affection of cereal grains producing a swelling which is at length resolved into a powdery sooty mass. It is caused by parasitic fungi of the genus Ustilago. Ustilago segetum, or U. Carbo, is the commonest kind; that of Indian corn is Ustilago maydis.

4. Obscene language; ribaldry; obscenity.

He does not stand upon decency . . . but will talk smut, though a priest and his mother be in the room.

Addison.

Smut mill, a machine for cleansing grain from smut.

Smut (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smutted; p. pr. & vb. n. Smutting.] 1. To stain or mark with smut; to blacken with coal, soot, or other dirty substance.

2. To taint with mildew, as grain. Bacon.

3. To blacken; to sully or taint; to tarnish.

4. To clear of smut; as, to smut grain for the mill.

Smut, v. i. 1. To gather smut; to be converted into smut; to become smutted. Mortimer.

2. To give off smut; to crock.

Smutch (?), n. [Prob. for smuts. See Smut, n.] A stain; a dirty spot. B. Jonson.

Smutch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smutched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Smutching.] To blacken with smoke, soot, or coal. [Written also smooch.] B. Jonson.

Smutch"in (?), n. Snuff. [Obs.] Howell.

Smut"ty (?), a. [Compar. Smuttier (?); superl. Smuttiest.] 1. Soiled with smut; smutted.

2. Tainted with mildew; as, smutty corn.

3. Obscene; not modest or pure; as, a smutty saying.

The smutty joke, ridiculously lewd.

Smollett.

-- Smut"ti*ly (#), adv. -- Smut"ti*ness, n.

Smyr"ni*ot (?), a. Of or pertaining to Smyrna. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Smyrna.

Snack (?), n. [See Snatch, v. t.] 1. A share; a part or portion; -- obsolete, except in the colloquial phrase, to go snacks, i. e., to share.

At last he whispers, "Do, and we go snacks."

Pope.

2. A slight, hasty repast. [Colloq.]

Snack"et (?), n. See Snecket. [Prov. Eng.]

Snac"ot (?), n. [Said to be corrupted fr. NL. syngnathus, fr. Gr. sy`n together + gna`qos jaw, because the jaws can be only slightly separated.] (Zoöl.) A pipefish of the genus Syngnathus. See Pipefish.

Snaf"fle (?), n. [D. snavel a beak, bill, snout; akin to G. schnabel, OHG. snabul,. sneb, snebbe, OFries. snavel mouth, Dan. & Sw. snabel beak, bill, Lith. snapas, and to E. snap, v. See Snap, and cf. Neb.] A kind of bridle bit, having a joint in the part to be placed in the mouth, and rings and cheek pieces at the ends, but having no curb; -- called also snaffle bit.

Snaf"fle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snaffled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snaffling (?).] To put a snaffle in the mouth of; to subject to the snaffle; to bridle.

Snag (?), n. [Prov. E., n., a lump on a tree where a branch has been cut off; v., to cut off the twigs and small branches from a tree, of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. snaigh, snaidh, to cut down, to prune, to sharpen, p. p. snaighte, snaidhte, cut off, lopped, Ir. snaigh a hewing, cutting.] 1. A stump or base of a branch that has been lopped off; a short branch, or a sharp or rough branch; a knot; a protuberance.

The coat of arms Now on a naked snag in triumph borne.

Dryden.

2. A tooth projecting beyond the rest; contemptuously, a broken or decayed tooth. Prior.

3. A tree, or a branch of a tree, fixed in the bottom of a river or other navigable water, and rising nearly or quite to the surface, by which boats are sometimes pierced and sunk.

4. (Zoöl.) One of the secondary branches of an antler.

Snag boat, a steamboat fitted with apparatus for removing snags and other obstructions in navigable streams. [U.S.] -- Snag tooth. Same as Snag, 2.

How thy snag teeth stand orderly, Like stakes which strut by the water side.

J. Cotgrave.

Snag, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snagged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snagging (?).] 1. To cut the snags or branches from, as the stem of a tree; to hew roughly. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

2. To injure or destroy, as a steamboat or other vessel, by a snag, or projecting part of a sunken tree. [U. S.]

Snag"ged (?), a. Full of snags; snaggy.

Snag"gy (?), a. 1. Full of snags; full of short, rough branches or sharp points; abounding with knots. "Upon a snaggy oak." Spenser.

2. Snappish; cross; ill-tempered. [Prov. Eng.]

Snail (snl), n. [OE. snaile, AS. snægel, snegel, snægl; akin to G. schnecke, OHG. snecko, Dan. snegl, Icel. snigill.] 1. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of numerous species of terrestrial air-breathing gastropods belonging to the genus Helix and many allied genera of the family Helicidæ. They are abundant in nearly all parts of the world except the arctic regions, and feed almost entirely on vegetation; a land snail. (b) Any gastropod having a general resemblance to the true snails, including fresh-water and marine species. See Pond snail, under Pond, and Sea snail.

2. Hence, a drone; a slow-moving person or thing.

3. (Mech.) A spiral cam, or a flat piece of metal of spirally curved outline, used for giving motion to, or changing the position of, another part, as the hammer tail of a striking clock.

4. A tortoise; in ancient warfare, a movable roof or shed to protect besiegers; a testudo. [Obs.]

They had also all manner of gynes [engines] . . . that needful is [in] taking or sieging of castle or of city, as snails, that was naught else but hollow pavises and targets, under the which men, when they fought, were heled [protected], . . . as the snail is in his house; therefore they cleped them snails.

Vegetius (Trans.).

5. (Bot.) The pod of the sanil clover.

Ear snail, Edible snail, Pond snail, etc. See under Ear, Edible, etc. -- Snail borer (Zoöl.), a boring univalve mollusk; a drill. -- Snail clover (Bot.), a cloverlike plant (Medicago scuttellata, also, M. Helix); -- so named from its pods, which resemble the shells of snails; -- called also snail trefoil, snail medic, and beehive. -- Snail flower (Bot.), a leguminous plant (Phaseolus Caracalla) having the keel of the carolla spirally coiled like a snail shell. -- Snail shell (Zoöl.), the shell of snail. -- Snail trefoil. (Bot.) See Snail clover, above.

Snail"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Sea snail (a).

<! p. 1361 !>

Snail"-like` (?), a. Like or suiting a snail; as, snail-like progress.

Snail"-like`, adv. In the manner of a snail; slowly.

Snail"-paced` (?), a. Slow-moving, like a snail.

Bid the snail-paced Ajax arm for shame.

Shak.

'Snails (?), interj. God's nails, or His nails, that is, the nails with which the Savior was fastened to the cross; -- an ancient form of oath, corresponding to 'Od's bodikins (dim. of body, i.e., God's dear body). Beau. & Fl.

Snake (?), n. [AS. snaca; akin to LG. snake, schnake, Icel. snkr, sn&?;kr, Dan. snog, Sw. snok; of uncertain origin.] (Zoöl.) Any species of the order Ophidia; an ophidian; a serpent, whether harmless or venomous. See Ophidia, and Serpent.

Snakes are abundant in all warm countries, and much the larger number are harmless to man.

Blind snake, Garter snake, Green snake, King snake, Milk snake, Rock snake, Water snake, etc. See under Blind, Garter, etc. -- Fetich snake (Zoöl.), a large African snake (Python Sebæ) used by the natives as a fetich. -- Ringed snake (Zoöl.), a common European columbrine snake (Tropidonotus natrix). -- Snake eater. (Zoöl.) (a) The markhoor. (b) The secretary bird. -- Snake fence, a worm fence (which see). [U.S.] -- Snake fly (Zoöl.), any one of several species of neuropterous insects of the genus Rhaphidia; -- so called because of their large head and elongated neck and prothorax. -- Snake gourd (Bot.), a cucurbitaceous plant (Trichosanthes anguina) having the fruit shorter and less snakelike than that of the serpent cucumber. -- Snake killer. (Zoöl.) (a) The secretary bird. (b) The chaparral cock. -- Snake moss (Bot.), the common club moss (Lycopodium clavatum). See Lycopodium. -- Snake nut (Bot.), the fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Ophiocaryon paradoxum) of Guiana, the embryo of which resembles a snake coiled up. -- Tree snake (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of colubrine snakes which habitually live in trees, especially those of the genus Dendrophis and allied genera.

Snake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snaking.] 1. To drag or draw, as a snake from a hole; -- often with out. [Colloq. U.S.] Bartlett.

2. (Naut.) To wind round spirally, as a large rope with a smaller, or with cord, the small rope lying in the spaces between the strands of the large one; to worm.

Snake, v. i. To crawl like a snake.

Snake"bird` (?), n. [So named from its snakelike neck.] (Zoöl.) 1. Any one of four species of aquatic birds of the genus Anhinga or Plotus. They are allied to the gannets and cormorants, but have very long, slender, flexible necks, and sharp bills.

The American species (Anhinga, or Plotus, anhinga) inhabits the Southern United States and tropical America; -- called also darter, and water turkey. The Asiatic species (A. melanogaster) is native of Southern Asia and the East Indies. Two other species inhabit Africa and Australia respectively.

2. (Zoöl.) The wryneck.

Snake"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The band fish. (b) The lizard fish.

Snake"head` (?), n. 1. A loose, bent-up end of one of the strap rails, or flat rails, formerly used on American railroads. It was sometimes so bent by the passage of a train as to slip over a wheel and pierce the bottom of a car.

2. (Bot.) (a) The turtlehead. (b) The Guinea-hen flower. See Snake's-head, and under Guinea.

Snake"neck` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The snakebird, 1.

Snake"root` (?), n. (Bot.) Any one of several plants of different genera and species, most of which are (or were formerly) reputed to be efficacious as remedies for the bites of serpents; also, the roots of any of these.

The Virginia snakeroot is Aristolochia Serpentaria; black snakeroot is Sanicula, esp. S. Marilandica, also Cimicifuga racemosa; Seneca snakeroot is Polygala Senega; button snakeroot is Liatris, also Eryngium; white snakeroot is Eupatorium ageratoides. The name is also applied to some others besides these.

Snake's"-head` (?), n. (Bot.) The Guinea-hen flower; -- so called in England because its spotted petals resemble the scales of a snake's head. Dr. Prior.

Snake's-head iris (Bot.), an iridaceous plant (Hermodactylus tuberosus) of the Mediterranean region. The flowers slightly resemble a serpent's open mouth.

Snake"stone` (?), n. 1. A kind of hone slate or whetstone obtained in Scotland.

2. (Paleon.) An ammonite; -- so called from its form, which resembles that of a coiled snake.

Snake's-tongue` (?), n. (Bot.) Same as Adder's-tongue.

Snake"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) (a) A kind of knotweed (Polygonum Bistorta). (b) The Virginia snakeroot. See Snakeroot.

Snake"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) (a) An East Indian climbing plant (Strychnos colubrina) having a bitter taste, and supposed to be a remedy for the bite of the hooded serpent. (b) An East Indian climbing shrub (Ophioxylon serpentinum) which has the roots and stems twisted so as to resemble serpents. (c) Same as Trumpetwood. (d) A tropical American shrub (Plumieria rubra) which has very fragrant red blossoms. (e) Same as Letterwood.

Snak"ish (?), a. Having the qualities or characteristics of a snake; snaky.

Snak"y (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to a snake or snakes; resembling a snake; serpentine; winding.

The red light playing upon its gilt and carving gave it an appearance of snaky life.

L. Wallace.

2. Sly; cunning; insinuating; deceitful.

So to the coast of Jordan he directs His easy steps, girded with snaky wiles.

Milton.

3. Covered with serpents; having serpents; as, a snaky rod or wand. Dryden.

That snaky-headed, Gorgon shield.

Milton.

Snap (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snapped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snapping.] [LG. or D. snappen to snap up, to snatch; akin to G. schnappen, MHG. snaben, Dan. snappe, and to D. snavel beak, bill. Cf. Neb, Snaffle, n.] 1. To break at once; to break short, as substances that are brittle.

Breaks the doors open, snaps the locks.

Prior.

2. To strike, to hit, or to shut, with a sharp sound.

3. To bite or seize suddenly, especially with the teeth.

He, by playing too often at the mouth of death, has been snapped by it at last.

South.

4. To break upon suddenly with sharp, angry words; to treat snappishly; -- usually with up. Granville.

5. To crack; to cause to make a sharp, cracking noise; as, to snap a whip.

MacMorian snapped his fingers repeatedly.

Sir W. Scott.

6. To project with a snap.

To snap back (Football), to roll the ball back with the foot; -- done only by the center rush, who thus delivers the ball to the quarter back on his own side when both sides are ranged in line. -- To snap off. (a) To break suddenly. (b) To bite off suddenly.

Snap, v. i. 1. To break short, or at once; to part asunder suddenly; as, a mast snaps; a needle snaps.

But this weapon will snap short, unfaithful to the hand that employs it.

Burke.

2. To give forth, or produce, a sharp, cracking noise; to crack; as, blazing firewood snaps.

3. To make an effort to bite; to aim to seize with the teeth; to catch eagerly (at anything); -- often with at; as, a dog snapsat a passenger; a fish snaps at the bait.

4. To utter sharp, harsh, angry words; -- often with at; as, to snap at a child.

5. To miss fire; as, the gun snapped.

Snap, n. [Cf. D. snap a snatching. See Snap, v. t.] 1. A sudden breaking or rupture of any substance.

2. A sudden, eager bite; a sudden seizing, or effort to seize, as with the teeth.

3. A sudden, sharp motion or blow, as with the finger sprung from the thumb, or the thumb from the finger.

4. A sharp, abrupt sound, as that made by the crack of a whip; as, the snap of the trigger of a gun.

5. A greedy fellow. L'Estrange.

6. That which is, or may be, snapped up; something bitten off, seized, or obtained by a single quick movement; hence, a bite, morsel, or fragment; a scrap.

He's a nimble fellow, And alike skilled in every liberal science, As having certain snaps of all.

B. Jonson.

7. A sudden severe interval or spell; -- applied to the weather; as, a cold snap. Lowell.

8. A small catch or fastening held or closed by means of a spring, or one which closes with a snapping sound, as the catch of a bracelet, necklace, clasp of a book, etc.

9. (Zoöl.) A snap beetle.

10. A thin, crisp cake, usually small, and flavored with ginger; -- used chiefly in the plural.

11. Briskness; vigor; energy; decision. [Colloq.]

12. Any circumstance out of which money may be made or an advantage gained. [Slang]

Snap back (Football), the act of snapping back the ball. -- Snap beetle, or Snap bug (Zoöl.), any beetle of the family Elateridæ, which, when laid on its back, is able to leap to a considerable height by means of a thoracic spring; -- called also snapping beetle. -- Snap flask (Molding), a flask for small work, having its sides separable and held together by latches, so that the flask may be removed from around the sand mold. -- Snap judgment, a judgment formed on the instant without deliberation. -- Snap lock, a lock shutting with a catch or snap. -- Snap riveting, riveting in which the rivets have snapheads formed by a die or swaging tool. -- Snap shot, a quick offhand shot, without deliberately taking aim.

Snap"drag`on (?), n. 1. (Bot.) (a) Any plant of the scrrophulariaceous genus Antirrhinum, especially the cultivated A. majus, whose showy flowers are fancifully likened to the face of a dragon. (b) A West Indian herb (Ruellia tuberosa) with curiously shaped blue flowers.

2. A play in which raisins are snatched from a vessel containing burning brandy, and eaten; also, that which is so eaten. See Flapdragon. Swift.

Snape (?), v. t. (Shipbuilding) To bevel the end of a timber to fit against an inclined surface.

Snap"hance` (?), n. [D. snaphaan a gun, originally, the snapping cock of a gun. See Snap, and Hen.] 1. A spring lock for discharging a firearm; also, the firearm to which it is attached. [Obs.]

2. A trifling or second-rate thing or person. [Obs.]

Snap"head` (?), n. A hemispherical or rounded head to a rivet or bolt; also, a swaging tool with a cavity in its face for forming such a rounded head.

Snap"per (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, snaps; as, a snapper up of trifles; the snapper of a whip.

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of large sparoid food fishes of the genus Lutjanus, abundant on the southern coasts of the United States and on both coasts of tropical America.

The red snapper (Lutjanus aya, or Blackfordi) and the gray, or mangrove, snapper (L. griseus) are large and abundant species. The name is loosely applied to various other fishes, as the bluefish, the rosefish, the red grouper, etc. See Rosefish.

3. (Zoöl.) A snapping turtle; as, the alligator snapper.

4. (Zoöl.) The green woodpecker, or yaffle.

5. (Zoöl.) A snap beetle.

Snap"ping (?), a. & n. from Snap, v.

Snapping beetle. (Zoöl.) See Snap beetle, under Snap. -- Snapping turtle. (Zoöl.) (a) A large and voracious aquatic turtle (Chelydra serpentina) common in the fresh waters of the United States; -- so called from its habit of seizing its prey by a snap of its jaws. Called also mud turtle. (b) See Alligator snapper, under Alligator.

Snap"pish (?), a. 1. Apt to snap at persons or things; eager to bite; as, a snapping cur.

2. Sharp in reply; apt to speak angrily or testily; easily provoked; tart; peevish.

The taunting address of a snappish misanthrope.

Jeffrey.

-- Snap"pish*ly, adv. -- Snap"pish*ness, n.

Snap"py (?), a. Snappish. [Colloq.]

Snap"sack` (?), n. [Cf. Sw. snappsäck, G. schnappsack.] A knapsack. [Obs.] South.

Snap"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) See Impatiens.

Snar (?), v. i. [Akin to LG. & OD. snarren, G. schnarren, E. snore. See Snore, and cf. Snarl to growl.] To snarl. [Obs.] Spenser.

Snare (?), n. [AS. sneara cord, a string; akin to D. snoer, G. schnur, OHG. snour a cord, snarahha a noose, Dan. snare, Sw. & Icel. snara, Goth. sn&?;rj&?; a basket; and probably also to E. needle. See Needle, and cf. Snarl to entangle.] 1. A contrivance, often consisting of a noose of cord, or the like, by which a bird or other animal may be entangled and caught; a trap; a gin.

2. Hence, anything by which one is entangled and brought into trouble.

If thou retire, the Dauphin, well appointed, Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee.

Shak.

3. The gut or string stretched across the lower head of a drum.

4. (Med.) An instrument, consisting usually of a wireloop or noose, for removing tumors, etc., by avulsion.

Snare drum, the smaller common military drum, as distinguished from the bass drum; -- so called because (in order to render it more resonant) it has stretched across its lower head a catgut string or strings.

Snare, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snaring.] To catch with a snare; to insnare; to entangle; hence, to bring into unexpected evil, perplexity, or danger.