[span-suh
l] 
noun, verb, -celed, -cel⋅ing or (especially British) -celled, -cel⋅ling.| 1. | a noosed rope with which to hobble an animal, esp. a horse or cow. |
| 2. | to fetter with or as with a spancel. |
| span·cel (spān'səl) n. A rope used to hobble an animal, as a sheep. tr.v. span·celed or span·celled, span·cel·ing or span·cel·ling, span·cels To hobble with a spancel. [Dutch spansel, from spannen, to bind, harness; see span2.] |