(n) Any word, often invented, written into a crossword solely because it fits with the known letters. The hamtrap is most frequently used when only one or two answers are missing, to give the 'solver' a sense of closure.
(v) To write such a word into a crossword
(v) To write such a word into a crossword
(n) "Did you put in 'chugfunt' as a hamtrap for 8 across? It's clearly meant to be 'clubfoot'."
(v) He couldn't get the last couple of answers in the crossword, so he just hamtrapped it.
(v) He couldn't get the last couple of answers in the crossword, so he just hamtrapped it.
by lyserge March 8, 2011