Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A large net admitting of making a wide compass in drawing it.
  • noun A net used by entomologists to take insects by drawing it over herbage with a sweeping motion.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • This was sufficient to banish further meditative surmising, and I crept swiftly to a point of vantage, and with sweep-net awaited their reappearance.

    Edge of the Jungle William Beebe 1919

  • Herpyllus in a bottle with three ants no larger than itself, which I had caught with it in the sweep-net.

    A Book of Natural History Young Folks' Library Volume XIV. Various 1891

  • Euphrates. pools -- owing to Cyrus turning the waters of the Euphrates over the country. besom -- sweep-net [Maurer], (1Ki 14: 10; 2Ki 21: 13).

    Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible 1871

  • That is called placing a balloon in a sweep-net, and, in fact, it appeared like an enormous fish.

    Original Short Stories — Volume 04 Guy de Maupassant 1871

  • That is called placing a balloon in a sweep-net, and, in fact, it appeared like an enormous fish.

    Complete Original Short Stories of Guy De Maupassant Guy de Maupassant 1871

  • “leaves of Paradise” hence the flesh is delicate and savoury and it is caught with the épervier or sweep-net in the

    The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

  • When Planchet heard the provoking sound of the silver and gold -- when he saw bubbling out of the bags the shining crowns, which glittered like fish from the sweep-net -- when he felt himself plunging his hands up to the elbows in that still rising tide of yellow and white coins, a giddiness seized him, and like a man struck by lightning, he sank heavily down upon the enormous heap, which his weight caused to roll away in all directions.

    The Vicomte De Bragelonne Alexandre Dumas p��re 1836

  • Paradise "hence the flesh is delicate and savoury and it is caught with the épervier or sweep-net in the Nile, canals and pools.

    Arabian nights. English Anonymous 1855

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