Mousetrap

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  mousetrap \mouse"trap`\, mouse trap \mouse" trap`\, n.
     Any device that catches, and usually kills, mice. They are of
     various designs, the most common being a stiff loop of wire
     mounted on a small wooden platform base and attached to a
     strong spring, which holds the loop firmly against the base.
     To activate the trap, the loop is pulled through a 180[deg]


     arc against the tension of the spring and held against the
     base by a delicate metal catch, which can keep the loop from
     moving, though in a state of high tension. The metal catch is
     moved when a mouse tries to take a piece of bait attached to
     it, releasing the loop which forcefully moves though an arc,
     usually killing the mouse. A larger version of the same
     device is used as a {rat trap}.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  mousetrap
       n 1: a trap for catching mice
       2: (American football) a play in which a defensive player is
          allowed to cross the line of scrimmage and then blocked
          off as the runner goes through the place the lineman
          vacated [syn: {trap play}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  28 Moby Thesaurus words for "mousetrap":
     Dionaea, Mark, baited trap, bazooka, booby trap, calliope,
     deadfall, deathtrap, decoy, firetrap, flytrap, gin, hedgehog,
     launch pad, launching pad, launching platform, launching tube,
     mine, mole trap, pitfall, projector, rattrap, set gun, silo,
     spring gun, springe, trap, trapfall