Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Trammel \Tram"mel\, n. [F. tramail, tr['e]mail, a net, LL.
   tremaculum, tremacle, a kind of net for taking fish; L. tres
   three + macula a mesh. See {Three}, and {Mail} armor.]
   1. A kind of net for catching birds, fishes, or other prey.
      --Carew.

   2. A net for confining a woman's hair. --Spenser.

   3. A kind of shackle used for regulating the motions of a
      horse and making him amble.

   4. Fig.: Whatever impedes activity, progress, or freedom, as
      a net or shackle.

            [They] disdain the trammels of any sordid contract.
                                                  --Jeffrey.

   5. An iron hook of various forms and sizes, used for handing
      kettles and other vessels over the fire.

   6. (Mech.)
      (a) An instrument for drawing ellipses, one part of which
          consists of a cross with two grooves at right angles
          to each other, the other being a beam carrying two
          pins (which slide in those grooves), and also the
          describing pencil.
      (b) A beam compass. See under {Beam}.

Trammel \Tram"mel\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Trammeled}or
   {Trammelled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Trammeling}, or
   {Trammelling}.]
   1. To entangle, as in a net; to catch. [R.] --Shak.

   2. To confine; to hamper; to shackle.

Source : WordNet®

trammel
     n 1: a fishing net with three layers; the outer two are coarse
          mesh and the loose inner layer is fine mesh [syn: {trammel
          net}]
     2: an adjustable pothook set in a fireplace
     3: a restraint that is used to teach a horse to amble
     4: a restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially
        something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner) [syn: {shackle},
         {bond}, {hamper}, {trammels}]
     [also: {tramels}, {tramelling}, {tramelled}, {trameling},
     {trameled}]

trammel
     v 1: catch in or as if in a trap; "The men trap foxes" [syn: {trap},
           {entrap}, {snare}, {ensnare}]
     2: place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of
        this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your
        friends" [syn: {restrict}, {restrain}, {limit}, {bound}, {confine},
         {throttle}]
     [also: {tramels}, {tramelling}, {tramelled}, {trameling},
     {trameled}]