mousetrap meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

mousetrap

noun

/ˈmaʊsˌtɹæp/

Etymology From Middle English mouse-trappe, mous trappe, mouse trape, equivalent to mouse + trap. Cognate with Dutch muizetrap, muizentrap (“mousetrap”), German Low German Muustrappe, Muustrapp (“mousetrap”). In the Internet sense, refers to a computer mouse.

A device for capturing or killing mice and other rodents.

Internet A website designed to open another copy of itself when the user tries to close the webpage.

Cooking, Food, Lifestyle UK, Informal Ordinary, everyday cheese.

Cooking, Food, Lifestyle New Zealand A slice of bread or toast topped with cheese and then grilled or microwaved.

Government, Military, Politics, War Historical An antisubmarine rocket used mainly during World War II by the US Navy and US Coast Guard.

Besides depth charges, they were armed with smaller forward firing antisubmarine rocket launchers called mousetraps. Fired in groups, these rockets detonated when they contacted a submarine.2003, Nautical Research Journal, volume 48, page 199:

Derived terms: build a better mousetrap, build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door, mousetrap gun, mousetrap man, mousetrapped

mousetrap

verb

Figuratively To trap; to trick or fool (someone) into a bad situation.

He hoped to bring the rebels out of their trenches for a showdown battle somewhere south of the Wilderness, that gloomy expanse of scrub oaks and pines where Lee had mousetrapped Joe Hooker exactly a year earlier.1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, Oxford, published 2004, page 724:

Internet To prevent (the user) from leaving a website by opening another copy when it is closed.

The scammer is paid for each new visitor directed to his site. There is nothing wrong except that the user finds it impossible to leave the site because he is mousetrapped.2005, Armando Ang, Greed & Scams, Inc: