Mousetrap

Any device that catches and usually kills mice They are of various designs the most common being a stiff loop of wire mounted on a small wooden platform base and attached to a strong spring which holds the loop firmly against the base To activate the trap the loop is pulled through a 180deg arc against the tension of the spring and held against the base by a delicate metal catch which can keep the loop from moving though in a state of high tension The metal catch is moved when a mouse tries to take a piece of bait attached to it releasing the loop which forcefully moves though an arc usually killing the mouse A larger version of the same device is used as a rat trap