Snare \Snare\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snared; p. pr. & vb. n. Snaring.]

To catch with a snare; to insnare; to entangle; hence, to bring into unexpected evil, perplexity, or danger.

Lest that too heavenly form . . . snare them. --Milton.

The mournful crocodile With sorrow snares relenting passengers. --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Snare \Snare\, n. [AS. sneara cord, a string; akin to D. snoer, G. schnur, OHG. snour a cord, snarahha a noose, Dan. snare, Sw. & Icel. snara, Goth. sn?rj? a basket; and probably also to E. needle. See Needle, and cf. Snarl to entangle.]

1. A contrivance, often consisting of a noose of cord, or the like, by which a bird or other animal may be entangled and caught; a trap; a gin.

2. Hence, anything by which one is entangled and brought into trouble.

If thou retire, the Dauphin, well appointed, Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee. --Shak.

3. The gut or string stretched across the lower head of a drum.

4. (Med.) An instrument, consisting usually of a wireloop or noose, for removing tumors, etc., by avulsion.

Snare drum, the smaller common military drum, as distinguished from the bass drum; -- so called because (in order to render it more resonant) it has stretched across its lower head a catgut string or strings.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)