ˈtrapstick
[f. trap n.1 + stick n.]
A stick used in the game of trap or trap-ball.
| 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Paleta, a trapsticke, Bacillum lusorium. a 1627 Middleton & Rowley Span. Gipsy ii. ii, If my woods, being cut down, can not fill this pocket, cut 'em into trap sticks. 1629 Shirley Wedding iii. ii, A boy of seven years old beat him with a trap-stick. 1764 T. Bridges Homer Travest. (1797) I. 272 On high In air he let his trapstick fly. 1862 Marsh Lect. Eng. Lang. 40 A mahogany box,..with..several trap sticks projecting through slots in the top of it. |
b. transf. and fig.
| 1680 Honest Hodge & Ralph 14 A meer trap-stick to bang the Phanaticks about. 1714 Addison Spect. 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 Dict. Vulg. T., Trap Sticks, thin legs, gambs. |