Etymology From Middle English snare, from Old English sneare (“snare, noose”), from Proto-West Germanic *snarhā, from Proto-Germanic *snarhǭ (“a sling; loop; noose”). Cognate with Old Norse snara. Also related to German Schnur and Dutch snaar, snoer.
1
A trap (especially one made from a loop of wire, string, or leather).
He […] watched Beavis’s long-toothed mouth open and clap to like a rabbit snare.1943, Graham Greene, The Ministry of Fear, London: Heinemann, published 1960, Book Three, Chapter One, pp. 196-197:
He felt a snare tightening around his throat; he gasped and threw a leg out of the bed, where it jerked for a second or two, thumping the steel frame, and died.2013, Richard Flanagan, chapter 18, in The Narrow Road to the Deep North, New York: Knopf, published 2014, page 332:
2
A mental or psychological trap.
If thou retire, the Dauphin, well appointed, Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee:1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
[…] if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 23:33:
3 more examples
[…] and I had now liv’d two Years under these Uneasinesses, which indeed made my Life much less comfortable than it was before; as may well be imagin’d by any who know what it is to live in the constant Snare of the Fear of Man […]1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 193:
“[…] riches are a great snare.”1864 August – 1866 January, [Elizabeth] Gaskell, Wives and Daughters. An Every-day Story. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], published 1866, →OCLC:
They were devious war aims, and Allenby’s campaign was fought with a maximum of snare and subterfuge.1978, Jan Morris, Farewell the Trumpets: An Imperial Retreat, New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Part One, Chapter 9, p. 173:
3
Biology, Medicine, Natural sciences, Pathology, Sciences, Veterinary, Zoology A loop of cord used in obstetric cases, to hold or to pull a fetus from the mother animal.
4
Medicine, Sciences, Surgery A similar looped instrument formerly used to remove tumours etc.
5
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music A set of stiff wires held under tension against the bottom head of a drum to create a rattling sound.
Etymology From Middle English snare, from Old English sneare (“snare, noose”), from Proto-West Germanic *snarhā, from Proto-Germanic *snarhǭ (“a sling; loop; noose”). Cognate with Old Norse snara. Also related to German Schnur and Dutch snaar, snoer.
1
To catch or hold, especially with a loop.
The mournful crocodile / With sorrow snares relenting passengers.c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
Lest that too heavenly form […] snare them.1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
1 more example
Instead, it aimed for a more important assurance: that if A.I. raises writers’ productivity or the quality of their output, guild members should snare an equitable share of the performance gains. And the W.G.A. got it.2023 September 29, Adam Seth Litwin, “Want to Save Your Job From A.I.? Hollywood Screenwriters Just Showed You How.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
Uncommon To play (a snare drum, or a beat on or as if on a snare drum).
[…] the slightest recollection of hearing the wind whistling through the cracks in the old house or the rain snaring its tat-a-tat on the rusty tin roof.2007 April 11, M. J. Eberhart, Ten Million Steps: Nimblewill Nomad's Epic 10-Month Trek from the Florida Keys to Québec, Menasha Ridge Press, →ISBN, page 123:
[…] T-Ray snared the drum in the background.2010 December 31, Laura Quimby, The Carnival of Lost Souls: A Handcuff Kid Novel, Abrams, →ISBN:
1 more example
[…] drummer snaring away on his little drum, tur-r-r-rump! tur-r-r-rump! tur-r-r-rump! r-r-rump, r-r-rump, r-r-rump! I love drums.2021 November 9, Annie Pike Greenwood, We Sagebrush Folks, Rare Treasure Editions, →ISBN: