a net for catching birds or fish; esp one having three layers with the middle one finer-meshed and slack so that fish passing through carry some of the centre net through the coarser opposite net and are trapped
literary (in pl) something that impedes freedom of action
the trammels of convention
an instrument for drawing ellipses
(also in pl) a compass for drawing large circles that consists of a beam with two sliding parts
NAmer an adjustable hook for pots over a fireplace
[Middle English tramayle, a kind of net, via French from late Latin tremaculum, from Latin tres three + macula mesh, spot]