trapstickn.
a. A stick used in the game of trap or trap-ball.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > trap bat and ball > [noun] > bat
trapstick1591
trap-bat1842
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Paleta A trapsticke, Bacillum lusorium.
a1627 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Spanish Gipsie (1653) ii. sig.D3v If my wookes [read woodes] being cut down cannot fill this Pocket, cut 'em into Trapsticks.
1629 J. Shirley Wedding iii. ii A boy of seven years old beat him with a trap-stick.
1767 T. Bridges Homer Travestie (ed. 2) I. v. 180 On high In air he let his trapstick fly.
1862 G. P. Marsh Lect. Eng. Lang. (new ed.) 40 A mahogany box,..with..several trap sticks projecting through slots in the top of it.
b. transferred and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > leg > [noun] > types of
spindle-shank1570
in the full1593
trapstick1680
mill-post1739
spider-leg1765
leglet1821
pin leg1862
pipestem1872
piano leg1894
scissor legs1920
1680 Honest Hodge & Ralph 14 A meer trap-stick to bang the Phanaticks about.
1715 J. Addison Spectator No. 559. ¶6 A foolish Swop between a Couple of thick bandy Legs, and two long Trapsticks that had no Calfs to them.
1796 Grose's Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue (ed. 3) Trap Sticks, thin legs, gambs.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online September 2020).
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n.1591