shackle

American  

[shak-uhl] / ˈʃæk əl /

noun

1. a ring or other fastening, as of iron, for securing the wrist, ankle, etc.; fetter.

   Synonyms:

   gyve, handcuff, manacle, chain

2. a hobble or fetter for a horse or other animal.

3. the U -shaped bar of a padlock, one end of which is pivoted or sliding, the other end of which can be released, as for passing through a staple, and then fastened, as for securing a hasp.

4. any of various fastening or coupling devices.

5. Often shackles. anything that serves to prevent freedom of procedure, thought, etc.

   Synonyms:

   encumbrance, impediment, obstruction, obstacle

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verb (used with object)

shackled, shackling

1. to put a shackle or shackles on; confine or restrain by a shackle or shackles.

   Synonyms:

   fetter, restrict, hobble, handcuff, chain

   Antonyms:

   free, liberate

2. to fasten or couple with a shackle.

3. to restrain in action, thought, etc., as by restrictions; restrict the freedom of.

   Synonyms:

   dull, stultify, slow, impede, trammel

   Antonyms:

   free, liberate

shackle British  

/ ˈʃækəl /

noun

1. (often plural) a metal ring or fastening, usually part of a pair used to secure a person's wrists or ankles; fetter

2. (often plural) anything that confines or restricts freedom

3. a rope, tether, or hobble for an animal

4. a U-shaped bracket, the open end of which is closed by a bolt ( shackle pin ), used for securing ropes, chains, etc

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verb

1. to confine with or as if with shackles

2. to fasten or connect with a shackle

Other Word Forms

• shackler
  noun

Etymology

Origin of shackle

before 1000; (noun) Middle English schakle, schakyl ( le ); Old English sceacel fetter; cognate with Low German schakel hobble, Old Norse skǫkull wagon pole, (v.) late Middle English schaklyn, derivative of the noun

Explanation

Handcuffs are shackles. So are those leg irons some prisoners wear when they appear in court. In other words, a shackle is a restraint, either physical or psychological, that restricts movement. We generally think of shackles as some sort of heavy metal cuff that is used to keep prisoners in check. But shackles don't have to be physical. Ignorance can be a shackle, so can an abusive family member, or the economy. In those cases, shackles are an external force that keep you from doing or being everything you want to. You can't see those shackles, but they can be every bit as confining as the metal cuffs.

Example Sentences

Popular Welsh act Rusty Shackle close Devauden Festival on Sunday having played at the first one in 2010.

From BBC • May 20, 2023

Deavuden's headliners are more Rum Buffalo and Rusty Shackle than Guns N' Roses and Sir Elton John who top the bill at Glastonbury this year - and that's what customers want.

From BBC • May 20, 2023

At the same time Ma Hopper, who thought Shackle was not good enough for her daughter, separated them, and Shackle found his girl back in Pewee's arms.

From Time Magazine Archive

Shackle the graves of Bolden, Bix and Berigan before they rotate, and send those 4,200 squares in Chicago back to the sincere "Three Bs."

From Time Magazine Archive

For they had suddenly come upon Shackle driving an old grey horse before him as if going on some farming business, and he started apparently from a fit of musing as he came abreast.

From Cutlass and Cudgel by Schonberg, J.

Related Words

• bind
• confine
• cuff
• handcuff
• tie up