Trap also is used by the dutch to mean a kind of steps or stairs (in the sense of 'tabled' surfaces to climb up-- and the same 'trap' is used to describe much of NY/NJ palisades-- (a basalt that has been turned amost to right angles--(it was laid down horizontal, and is now just 6º to 17º off vertical) as the basalt crystalized at it cooled, and the layers now, break off in "shelves" making a giant 'stair cases' -- and the rock -- is called 'trap rock' (it was mined up until the 1920's, until the robber barron of NY stopped it by buying up all the land..) the dutch first called it trap rock, and the name stuck.. (it is used in the northeast US-- as far north as boston (this old house has used the term) but i don't think it is used in all of US...trap rock is the basalt pulverized to make coarse gravel for road beds and construction. (the crystiline structure makes it easy to pulverize)

the same type of high platteau's in the west are called mesa's-- the spanish for table..


my other obsession