spancel

[ span-suhl ]

noun

1. a noosed rope with which to hobble an animal, especially a horse or cow.

verb (used with object)

, span·celed, span·cel·ing or (especially British) span·celled, span·cel·ling.

1. to fetter with or as with a spancel.

spancel

/ ˈspænsəl /

noun

1. a length of rope for hobbling an animal, esp a horse or cow

verb

1. tr to hobble (an animal) with a loose rope

Word History and Origins

Origin of spancel¹

1600–10; < Low German spansel, derivative of spannen to stretch; span ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of spancel¹

C17: from Low German spansel, from spannen to stretch; see span ²

Example Sentences

Katharine Tynan’s “The Death Spancel and Others” is characteristically elegant, as well as an important work of literary recovery.

From Washington Post

It was called the Spancel —after the rope with which domestic animals were hobbled —and there were several of them in the secret coffers of the Old Ones.

From Literature

The way to use a Spancel was this.

From Literature

Queen Morgause stood in the moonlight, drawing the Spancel through her fingers.

From Literature

Perhaps the Spancel had a strength in it Perhaps it was because she was twice his age, so that she had twice the power of his weapons.

From Literature