snickle

1) A snare or gin, for trapping hares in particular, and used as a synonym of hare-pipe. It was made of wire, a loop with a running knot.

1673 hath knowne John Warde to make haire pipes or snitles and seen him set them in hedges, Doncaster

1677 Richard Wadsworth saith that hee hath lately taken from John Horsfall six snickles, snares or harepipes of yellow wire, Heptonstall. The use of ‘yellow wire’ for snares was usual in the 1600s, possibly wire made from an alloy of copper and zinc. In 1693, a Heckmondwike man was said to have set severall snares both yallew and blew wyer. Snittlegate is a late minor place-name in Scholes near Holmfirth.

spellings snittle
dates 1673 1677

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