SNare

A snare is a term with several related senses in English. It can refer to a trap used to catch animals, or to a component of a percussion instrument known as the snare drum. The verb form to snare means to trap or ensnare.

In hunting and wildlife management, a snare is a loop of cord, wire, or cable that is arranged so that when an animal steps on a trigger or otherwise moves within range, the loop tightens around a limb or the neck. Snares vary in design and trigger mechanism; some are foot-based, others are body snares. Their use is subject to legal and ethical considerations due to risks to non-target animals and potential suffering.

In music, the snare drum is a percussion instrument with a shallow cylindrical shell and two drumheads. The lower head carries a set of snares—metal wires, gut, or synthetic strands—that rest against the lower head and resonate when the drum is struck. The snares vibrate against the skin to produce a sharp, distinctive crack. The term “snare” can also refer to the wires themselves or to the drum’s characteristic sound.

Etymology: The word originates in Old English snære, meaning cord or trap, from Germanic roots. The sense of a trap broadened to the drum component through metaphor and specialized use in English.