Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Transenna

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

TRANSEN'NA. A trap for snaring birds, constructed upon a principle very similar to that of our "man-trap." It was formed of network strained upon a frame which was made in two pieces attached to a common axis, extended between them. When the trap was set, the two flaps lay flat out upon the ground; but the moment the bird alighted upon the bait, which was placed upon the cross bar in the centre, its weight slipped the spring, and the two sides closed together and secured the bird. (Plaut. Bacch. iv. 5. 22. Rud. iv. 7. 10. and 13. Compare also Pers. iv. 3. 13.) The illustration (Transenna/1.1) represents an Egyptian trap of the kind described from paintings at Beni-Hassan; on the left side, open, and set; on the right after it has closed with the bird caught in it; the network only has been restored to the right figure, from which it had faded in the original.

2. A lattice of cross-bars before a window, or other aperture, as in the illustration s. PROTHYRUM; hence quasi per transennam adspicere (Cic. Orat. i. 35.), "to look in a cursory or imperfect manner, as if through a lattice."

3. A rope extended across any place or opening from side to side (Serv. ad Virg. Aen. v. 488. Isidor. Orig. xix. 1. 24. Sall. ap. Non. s. v. p. 180.); such, for example, as was stretched across the race-course for the purpose of compelling all the horses to start together (LINEA, 4.); whence the expression e transenna (Ammian. xxv. 6. 14.), "all together."

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  Transenna/1.1