shackle

Plural: shackles

Noun

• a restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner)
• a U-shaped bar; the open end can be passed through chain links and closed with a bar
• A restraint fitted over a human or animal appendage, such as an ankle, finger, or wrist, normally used in a pair joined by a chain.
• A restraint fitted over a human or animal appendage, such as an ankle, finger, or wrist, normally used in a pair joined by a chain.
• A U-shaped piece of metal secured with a bolt or pin across the ends, or a hinged metal loop secured with a quick-release locking pin mechanism, used for attaching things together while allowing for some degree of movement; a clevis.
• A restraint fitted over a human or animal appendage, such as an ankle, finger, or wrist, normally used in a pair joined by a chain.
• A hook, ring, or other device for connecting, holding, lifting, etc.; specifically (nautical), a small incomplete ring secured with a bolt across the ends, used to connect lengths of cable or chain together, or to keep a porthole closed.
• A restraint fitted over a human or animal appendage, such as an ankle, finger, or wrist, normally used in a pair joined by a chain.
• Synonym of hobble or hopple (“a short strap tied between the legs of a horse, allowing it to wander a short distance but not to run off”).
• A restraint fitted over a human or animal appendage, such as an ankle, finger, or wrist, normally used in a pair joined by a chain.
• A link for connecting railroad cars; a draglink, drawbar, or drawlink.
• A restraint fitted over a human or animal appendage, such as an ankle, finger, or wrist, normally used in a pair joined by a chain.
• Ellipsis of shackle-bone (“wristbone, carpal; wrist”).
• A restraint fitted over a human or animal appendage, such as an ankle, finger, or wrist, normally used in a pair joined by a chain.
• A fetter-like band worn on an appendage as an ornament; an anklet, an armlet, a bracelet, a wristlet.
• A restraint on one's action, activity, or progress.
• A length of cable or chain equal to 12½ fathoms (75 feet or about 22.9 metres), or later to 15 fathoms (90 feet or about 27.4 metres).
• A person who is idle or lazy; an idler.
• A dice game; also, an event at which tickets are sold for chances to be drawn to win prizes; a raffle.

Verb

Verb Forms: shackled, shackling, shackles

• To confine with metal fastenings, restricting movement.
• bind the arms of
• restrain with fetters
• To place (a person or animal) in shackles (noun sense 1); to immobilize or restrain using shackles.
• To connect or couple (something) to another thing using a shackle (noun sense 1.1.1, sense 1.1.2, etc.).
• To provide (something) with a shackle.
• To inhibit or restrain the ability, action, activity, or progress of (someone or something); to render (someone or something) incapable or ineffectual.
• To combine (a substance) with another substance.
• Of two things: to connect or couple together.
• To rattle or shake (something).
• To put (something) into disorder; specifically (agriculture), to cause (standing stalks of corn) to fall over.
• Often followed by about: to be idle or lazy; to avoid work.

Examples

• My opponent tried to SHACKLE my letter options by strategically blocking key spots.
• The prisoner lay in shackles in his gloomy cell.
• This law would effectively shackle its opposition.

Synonyms

bond, fetter, hamper, pinion, trammel, beshackle, bind, cuff, dragbar, enshackle, hamshackle, handcuff, hobble, hopple, manacle, tie

Antonyms

free, liberate, unbind, uncuff, unfetter, unhandcuff, unmanacle, unshackle, untie

Anagrams of shackle