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

Example Sentences

Fearful of a future shackled to the home, Charu leaves at 16 to find her way in Bombay, the first of this pilgrim soul’s reinventions.

From The Wall Street Journal

I heard you were calm and even smiled when it was announced—an act of defiance to tell them they might have your body but will never shackle your spirit.

From The Wall Street Journal

At a Juvenile Court hearing this week in East Lost Angeles, sheriff’s deputies led shackled defendants into a courtroom reserved for youths accused of serious crimes.

From Los Angeles Times

He broke the shackles by hitting spinner Mark Watt for consecutive sixes and finished 63 not out around contributions of 32 from Jacob Bethell and 28 by Sam Curran.

From BBC

Scotland bowled tightly until Bethell broke the shackles by hitting McMullen for a six and two fours in the fifth over.

From Barron's

Related Words

• bind
• confine
• cuff
• handcuff
• tie up