purse-net
(ˈpɜːsnɛt)
1. A bag-shaped net, the mouth of which can be drawn together with cords; used especially for catching rabbits, also as a fishing net. Also attrib.
| c 1400 Master of Game (MS. Digby 182) vii, Men taketh hem with houndes, with grehoundes, with heyes, and with pursnettes. 1576 Turberv. Venerie 179 Set purse-nettes upon al the holes, or as many of them as you can finde. 1653 Urquhart Rabelais i. xl, I twist lines and weave purse-nets, wherein to catch coneys. 1766 Compl. Farmer s.v. Rabbit, The ferret is sent into a hole to force them out, and the purse-net, being spread over the hole, takes them, as they come out. 1883 F. Day Indian Fish 15 There are purse-nets and bag-nets, some with, others without, pockets. 1911 [see purse boat s.v. purse n. 11]. 1931 Sun (Baltimore) 29 Jan. 6/2 Fish that sold for approximately $1,000 was garnered..by ten purse-net fishing boats. Ibid. 26 Feb. 5/6 Opponents of purse nets and buck net fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. 1971 Stornoway Gaz. 10 July 3/5 Over the past two weeks, a succession of large Norwegian pursers have been visiting the port, some to land purse nets for repairs. 1977 Young's Sporting Appliances (S. Young & Sons Ltd.) 4 Purse Net Line..Purse Net Rings. |
| fig. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girl iv. ii, We shopkeepers, when all's done, are sure to have 'em in our purse nets at length. 1675 V. Alsop Anti-sozzo iii. 109 If he has not got us into such a Cramp and Purse-nett that we shall never escape without loss of Bag and Baggage. |
† 2. See
quot. Obs. slang.| a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Pursenets, goods taken upon Trust by young Unthrifts at treble the Value; also a little Purse. |
3. Comb.:
† ˈpurse-net-fish, a basket-fish.
| 1671 Winthrop [see net-fish s.v. net n.1 5]. |
Hence
ˈpurse-netting.
| 1931 Sun (Baltimore) 13 Mar. 12/4 (heading) Mr. Denmead shows evils of purse netting. 1961 Listener 24 Aug. 269/1 The deadly purse-netting ships, with the aid of these depth-recorders, could pin-point the shoals at the exact depth when the fish were on spawning levels. |