4. (Science: medicine) An instrument, consisting usually of a wireloop or noose, for removing tumours, etc, by avulsion. Snare drum, the smaller common military drum, as distinguished from the bass drum; so called because (in order to render it more resonant) it has stretched across its lower head a catgut string or strings.
Origin: AS. Sneara cord, a string; akin to D. Snoer, G. Schnur, OHG. Snour a cord, snarahha a noose, Dan. Snare, Sw. & Icel. Snara, Goth. Snrj a basket; and probably also to E. Needle. See Needle, and cf. Snarl to entangle.