mantrap

/'mæntræp/

Definition

Noun:
- A trap for catching trespassers: A device or mechanism designed to capture or ensnare unauthorized persons, typically used for security or protection against intruders.
- A very attractive or seductive-looking woman: (Informal, dated, and often considered offensive) A woman whose appearance is considered highly alluring or captivating.

Usage Examples

Noun (Trap):
- The old estate was rumored to have a mantrap in the woods to deter poachers.
- Security installed a mantrap at the entrance to the high-security vault.
Noun (Attractive woman):
- The 1940s film noir often featured a dangerous mantrap as the femme fatale. (Note: This usage is archaic and can be pejorative.)

Advanced Usage

The term is rarely used in modern contexts for either meaning. When referring to a security device, terms like "security trap" or "man trap" (as two words) are more common in technical specifications. The figurative use for a person is now widely regarded as sexist and objectifying.

Variants and Related Words

Man trap (noun, two words): Can refer to a type of security portal or physical access control system that allows only one person to pass through at a time.
Decoy (noun): A person or object used to lure someone into a trap or dangerous situation.
Femme fatale (noun): A stock character of a mysterious and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising or dangerous situations. (This is a related concept for the second, figurative meaning).

Synonyms

For a trap: Snare, pitfall, deadfall, booby trap.
For an attractive person (with caution regarding context and potential offensiveness): Siren, seductress, enchantress, heartbreaker.

Related Idioms

To set/fall into a trap: This common idiom relates to the first meaning. While not containing the word "mantrap," it describes the core action.
- The investigators set a clever trap for the thief.
- He fell right into their trap.

Notes on Usage

The second meaning ("attractive woman") is archaic and carries significant negative connotations. It reduces a person to an object or hazard. It is strongly advised to avoid this usage in contemporary language.
The first meaning is also somewhat dated but may appear in historical contexts or discussions of antique security measures. In modern security parlance, a "mantrap" is more precisely described as a "security vestibule" or "airlock entry system."

Noun