# trapan

> English word · Noun · IPA /tɹəˈpæn/

## Definitions
1. An act of entrapping or tricking; an entrapment; also, a thing which entraps or tricks; a snare or trap; a stratagem or trick.
2. A person (or occasionally an animal) that traps or tricks another into doing something that benefits them but harms the victim; a fraudster, a swindler, a trickster.

## Etymology
The origin of the noun is uncertain; etymology 1 sense 2 (“person that traps or tricks another”), the original sense, was probably thieves’ cant and may be derived from trap (noun or verb). Etymology 1 sense 1 (“act of entrapping or tricking; thing which entraps or tricks”) is from the verb.
The verb is derived from etymology 1 sense 2 of the noun.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/trapan