to spancel
9.9
To tie an animal's legs together so it cannot move
- verb
- Archaic
:
atar
- The farmer showed the children how to spancel a calf for easier handling during medical checks.
Examples
-
To catch the wild goat, they had to spancel its legs so it couldn't escape.
-
Using a secure knot, he can spancel the lamb to keep it from wandering off.
-
Strong walls these, sharp granite stone set in a way that the edifice couldn’t collapse; no need to fetter, chain, or spancel the donkey.
Fiction book (1997)
Synonyms
to lash
vsto spancel
14
4.7
To fasten something securely with rope or cord
uses binding specifically on legs to stop escape rather than general fastening
to hogtie
vsto spancel
1
9.0
To tie the legs and arms of a person or animal so they cannot move
ties only the rear legs to limit movement rather than all limbs
How Restrictive
to shackle
35
6.2
35
6.2
to fetter
3
8.7
3
8.7
to spancel
- Archaic
to bind
132
3.2
132
3.2
to tie
923
1.0
923
1.0
to fasten
68
1.6
68
1.6
Surface Forms
spancel infinitive
spancelled past
spancelled past participle
spancelling present participle
spancels third person singular
Etymology
The verb spancel means to tie an animal's legs together to stop it moving. Think of it as making a spancel, a short span of rope that 'binds' the legs so the animal cannot run away.