coffle

American  

[kaw-fuhl, kof-uhl] / ˈkɔ fəl, ˈkɒf əl /

noun

1. a line of animals, prisoners, or slaves chained and driven along together.

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verb (used with object)

coffled, coffling

1. to chain in a coffle.

coffle British  

/ ˈkɒfəl /

noun

1. (esp formerly) a line of slaves, beasts, etc, fastened together

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Etymology

Origin of coffle

First recorded in 1790–1800; from Arabic qāfilah “caravan, company of travelers”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coffle

These newcomers patrol the coast like abolitionist avengers, superpowering their way through every coffle and barracoon they encounter.

From New York Times ● Jan. 7, 2019

All night, we walked as a coffle of the dead.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

She had not been permitted to approach the coffle, but she approached me.

From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler

I wouldn’t have known Sam had been sold if I hadn’t glanced out the window of Margaret Weylin’s room and seen the coffle.

From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler

Meanwhile the people of the coffle were ordered to conceal themselves in a cotton field, and no person to speak but in a whisper.

From Lander's Travels The Travels of Richard Lander into the Interior of Africa by Robert Huish

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