spancel

span·cel

[span-suhl] noun, verb, span·celed, span·cel·ing or ( especially British ) span·celled, span·cel·ling.
noun
1.
a noosed rope with which to hobble an animal, especially a horse or cow.
verb (used with object)
2.
to fetter with or as with a spancel.

Origin:
1600–10; < Low German spansel, derivative of spannen to stretch; see span2

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World English Dictionary
spancel (ˈspænsəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  a length of rope for hobbling an animal, esp a horse or cow
 
vb , -cels, -celling, -celled, -cels, -celing, -celed
2.  (tr) to hobble (an animal) with a loose rope
 
[C17: from Low German spansel, from spannen to stretch; see span²]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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00:10
Spancel is one of our favorite verbs.
So is peculate. Does it mean:
to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.
to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.
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