Spring-gun, a gun having wires connected with its trigger, and so fixed and planted that when wild animals, trespassers, &c. stumble against the wire the gun shall be discharged at them so as to wound them. Since 1827 it is illegal in Britain to set Man-traps (q.v.) or spring-guns save indoors as a defence against burglars.
Spring-gun,
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 9: Bound to Swansea, p. 662
Source scan(s): p. 0681