fly-trapn.
/ˈflʌɪtrap/, U.S. /ˈflaɪˌtræp/ 1.
a. A trap to catch flies.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > [noun] > device for catching flies
flycatcher1708
fly-cage1838
flypaper1842
fly-trap1855
catch-'em-alive-oh1856
the world > food and drink > hunting > equipment > trap or snare > [noun] > trap for insects
flycatcher1708
bug trap?1765
flapper1796
fly-cage1838
flypaper1842
fly-trap1855
catch-'em-alive-oh1856
light trap1881
1855 in J. Ogilvie Imperial Dict. Suppl.
1859 J. Lang Wanderings in India 382 A fly-trap which he had that morning invented.
b. figurative.
ΚΠ
1909 ‘O. Henry’ Options (1916) 62 Old Jerome was lingering long after breakfast..before setting forth to his down town fly-trap.
1925 W. Deeping Sorrell & Son iii. 25 The ‘Cubby Hole’ of the Angel Inn was a pivot, a fly-trap, a cave into which all sorts of male things crowded, and drank.
2. A fly-catching plant, esp. Apocynum androsæmifolium. Venus's fly-trap: see Venus n.1 Compounds 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > insectivorous plants > [noun] > Venus's fly-trap
fly-trap1774
the world > plants > particular plants > plants perceived as weeds or harmful plants > poisonous or harmful plants > [noun] > dog's bane
dogbane1597
silk grass1670
fly-trap1774
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VIII. 162 The flower, which goes by the name of the fly-trap.
1776 J. Lee Introd. Bot. (ed. 3) 276 Dionæa, Venus's flytrap.
1841 in S. Maunder Sci. & Lit. Treasury at Flytrap.
3. slang. The mouth.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > mouth > [noun]
moutheOE
billa1000
munc1400
mussa1529
mouc1540
gan1567
gob1568
bouche1582
oven1593
taster1596
Pipe Office1609
neba1616
gab1681
gam1724
mouthpiece1738
potato-trap1785
potato-jaw1791
fly-trapc1795
trap1796
mouthie1801
mug1820
gin-trap1824
rattletrap1824
box1830
mouf1836
bread trap1838
puss1844
tater-trap1846
gash1852
kissing trap1854
shop1855
north and south1858
mooey1859
kisser1860
gingerbread-trap1864
bazoo1877
bake1893
tattie-trap1894
yap1900
smush1930
gate1937
cakehole1943
motormouth1976
pie hole1983
geggie1985
c1795 M. G. Lewis in Spirit of Public Jrnls. (1799) I. 323 The bride shuts her fly trap; the stranger complies.
4. (See quot.) U.S.
ΚΠ
1816 U. Brown Jrnl. in Maryland Hist. Mag. 11 231 He could take a reference & fall into the Right Course (he carrying a flie-trap slung on his Back to assist him on such Occasions).
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1774