trace
2
[ treys ]
/ treɪs /
noun
either of the two straps, ropes, or chains by which a carriage, wagon, or the like is drawn by a harnessed horse or other draft animal.
a piece in a machine, as a bar, transferring the movement of one part to another part, being hinged to each.
Idioms for trace
kick over the traces,
to throw off restraint; become independent or defiant: He kicked over the traces and ran off to join the navy.
Origin of trace
2
1300–50; Middle English
trais < Middle French, plural of
trait strap for harness, action of drawing < Latin
tractus a drawing, dragging; see
tract1
Words nearby trace
trabeculoplasty,
trabeculotomy,
trabs,
trabzon,
tracasserie,
trace,
trace element,
trace fossil,
traceable,
traceless,
tracer
British Dictionary definitions for kick over the traces (1 of 2)
trace
1
/ (treɪs) /
noun
verb
Derived forms of trace
Word Origin for trace
C13: from French
tracier, from Vulgar Latin
tractiāre (unattested) to drag, from Latin
tractus, from
trahere to drag
British Dictionary definitions for kick over the traces (2 of 2)
trace
2
/ (treɪs) /
noun
either of the two side straps that connect a horse's harness to the swingletree
angling
a length of nylon or, formerly, gut attaching a hook or fly to a line
kick over the traces
to escape or defy control
Word Origin for trace
C14
trais, from Old French
trait, ultimately from Latin
trahere to drag
Idioms and Phrases with kick over the traces
kick over the traces
Break loose from restraint, misbehave. For example, There's always one child who'll kick over the traces as soon as the bell rings. This metaphoric expression alludes to the straps attaching a horse to a vehicle, which the animal sometimes gets a leg over in order to kick more freely and thereby refuse to move forward. [Mid-1800s]