Where does “mantrap” come from?

mantrap (English) comes from English MAN, from English manual, from Middle English manuel, from Anglo-Norman manuel, from Old French manual, from Latin manuālis, from Latin manus, from Proto-Italic manus — human being; man; hand.

mantrap (English): A mechanical device for catching trespassers; A...

Definitions

  1. A mechanical device for catching trespassers; A...

Ancestry of “mantrap”, step by step

mantrap traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English MAN

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishMANInitialism of Metropolitan Area Network
2EnglishmanualA handbook; A booklet that instructs on the usage...
3Middle Englishmanuel
4Anglo-Normanmanuelmanual; done with the hands; handle; manual;...
5Old Frenchmanual
6Latinmanuālishand
7Latinmanushand; bravery, valor; violence, fighting
8Proto-Italicmanushand
9Proto-Indo-Europeanman-human being; man; hand

via English trap

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtrapA machine or other device designed to catch (and sometimes kill) animals, either by holding them in a container, or by catching hold of part of the body
2Middle Englishtrappetrap
3Old Englishtræppea trap
4Proto-Germanictrap-
5Proto-Indo-Europeandreb-
6Proto-Indo-Europeander-to split, to separate; to tear, to crack, to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European man-
mantrap — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer