sb. Obs. Forms: 3–5 traynelle, 4 traynel(e, 6–7 trainel; 6–7 tranell, 7 trannell. [a. OF. trainel (13th c. in Godef.), a trammel or hobble for a horse, a fishing-net (14th c. in Littré).]
(In some cases a graphical confusion between trainel and tramel seems possible.)
1. Some part of a horse’s harness; perh. a hobble or trammel.
1284. Acc. Exch. K. R., Bd. 97. No. 3 (P.R.O). Pro cordis emptis … ad Traynell[is] et Loygnes factis pro cisdem [equis]. Ibid., m. 4 Pro loynes et traynellis.
c. 1341. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 541. In Traynels factis pro equis domini Prioris, viij d. In j traynel emp. pro equo Bursarii, iiij d.
1467. Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.), 389. Smythe the sadelere … axsethe for … a new traynelle, viij d.
2. A drag-net. Also trainel-net.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 256/1. Tragula … Traineau, a trainel or drag net.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XVI. viii. I. 461. Much use there is of it [cork] … for flotes to trainels or drag-nets.
1620. J. Wilkinson, Courts Leet, 122. No man ought to fish … but with such Nette or trannell as everie meash shall be two and a halfe inches wide.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Trainel-Net, Tramel or Trammel, a Drag-Net.
Hence † Trainel v. Obs., intr. to practise bird-catching with a drag-net (const. for).
1530. Palsgr., 586/1. I hoble, I tranell for larkes, je tremaille. Ibid., 760/2. I tranell for larkes, je trainelle.
1676. Marvell, Mr. Smirke, 37. If a man went out by night on Tranelling, or Bat-fowling.
