Added 9 October 2026
dragnet
/ˈdɹæɡˌnɛt/ noun
In Latin: tragula Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about dragnet at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A system of coordinated measures for apprehending (criminals or other individuals).
caught in the police dragnet
- A conical fishnet dragged through the water at great depths.
Origin
From drag + net, probably based on the model of Middle English draynet, dreynett (“dragnet”), Old English dræġnet, dræġnett (“dragnet”), equivalent to dray + net. Cognate with Swedish dragnät, Norwegian dragnett, from Icelandic dragnet.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)