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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Trammel \Tram"mel\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Trammeledor 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: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Ellipsograph \El*lip"so*graph\, n. [Ellipse + graph: cf. F. ellipsographe.]

An instrument for describing ellipses; -- called also trammel.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)