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Webster 1913 Edition

Shackle

Shac′kle

,
Noun.
Stubble.
[Prov. Eng.]
Pegge.

Shac′kle

,
Noun.
[Generally used in the plural.]
[OE.
schakkyll
,
schakle
, AS.
scacul
,
sceacul
, a shackle, fr.
scacan
to shake; cf. D.
schakel
a link of a chain, a mesh, Icel.
skökull
the pole of a cart. See
Shake
.]
1.
Something which confines the legs or arms so as to prevent their free motion; specifically, a ring or band inclosing the ankle or wrist, and fastened to a similar shackle on the other leg or arm, or to something else, by a chain or a strap; a gyve; a fetter.
His
shackles
empty left; himself escaped clean.
Spenser.
2.
Hence, that which checks or prevents free action.
His very will seems to be in bonds and
shackles
.
South.
3.
A fetterlike band worn as an ornament.
Most of the men and women . . . had all earrings made of gold, and gold
shackles
about their legs and arms.
Dampier.
4.
A link or loop, as in a chain, fitted with a movable bolt, so that the parts can be separated, or the loop removed; a clevis.
5.
A link for connecting railroad cars; – called also
drawlink
,
draglink
, etc.
6.
The hinged and curved bar of a padlock, by which it is hung to the staple.
Knight.
Shackle joint
(Anat.)
,
a joint formed by a bony ring passing through a hole in a bone, as at the bases of spines in some fishes.

Shac′kle

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Shackled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Shackling
.]
1.
To tie or confine the limbs of, so as to prevent free motion; to bind with shackles; to fetter; to chain.
To lead him
shackled
, and exposed to scorn
Of gathering crowds, the Britons’ boasted chief.
J. Philips.
2.
Figuratively: To bind or confine so as to prevent or embarrass action; to impede; to cumber.
Shackled
by her devotion to the king, she seldom could pursue that object.
Walpole.
3.
To join by a link or chain, as railroad cars.
[U. S.]
Shackle bar
,
the coupling between a locomotive and its tender.
[U.S.]
–
Shackle bolt
,
a shackle.
Sir W. Scott.

Webster 1828 Edition

Shackle

SHACK'LE

,
Noun.
Stubble. [In Scotish, shag is the refuse of barley, or that which is not well filled, and is given to horses. The word shack then is probably from a root which signifies to break, to reject, or to waste, or it may be allied to shag and shake.]

SHACK'LE

,
Verb.
T.
1. To chain; to fetter; to tie or confine the limbs so as to prevent free motion.
So the stretch'd cord the shackled dancer tries,
As prone to fall as impotent to rise. Smith.
2. To bind or confine so as to obstruct or embarrass action.
You must not shackle him with the rules about indifferent matter. Locke.

SHACK'LE

,
Noun.
[generally used in the plural.]

Definition 2024

shackle

shackle

English

A shackle—a U-shaped piece of metal.

Noun

shackle ‎(plural shackles)

  1. A restraint fit over a human or animal appendage, such as a wrist, ankle or finger. Usually used in plural, to indicate a pair joined by a chain; a hobble.
  2. A U-shaped piece of metal secured with a pin or bolt across the opening, or a hinged metal loop secured with a quick-release locking pin mechanism.
  3. (figuratively, chiefly in the plural) A restraint on one's action, activity, or progress.
    • South
      His very will seems to be in bonds and shackles.
  4. A fetter-like band worn as an ornament.
    • Dampier
      Most of the men and women […] had all earrings made of gold, and gold shackles about their legs and arms.
  5. A link for connecting railroad cars; a drawlink or draglink.
  6. stubble
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Pegge to this entry?)

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Verb

shackle ‎(third-person singular simple present shackles, present participle shackling, simple past and past participle shackled)

  1. To restrain using shackles; to place in shackles.
  2. By extension, to render immobile or incapable; to inhibit the progress or abilities of someone or something.
    This law would effectively shackle its opposition.
    • 2011 February 12, Phil McNulty, “Man Utd 2 - 1 Man City”, in BBC:
      Rooney, superbly shackled by City defender Vincent Kompany for so long as Ferguson surprisingly left Dimitar Berbatov on the bench, had previously cut a forlorn and frustrated figure but his natural instincts continue to serve him and United so well.

Antonyms

Translations

Anagrams

Scots

Etymology

From Old English sceacel, sceacul, scacul ‎(“shackle, bond, fetter”), from Proto-Germanic *skakulaz ‎(“shackle”), from Proto-Indo-European *skeg-, *skek- ‎(“to jump, move, shake, stir”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ʃakl], [ʃekl]

Noun

shackle ‎(plural shackles)

  1. shackle, fetter, manacle
  2. (anatomy) wrist

Derived terms

Verb

shackle ‎(third-person singular present shackles, present participle shacklin, past shackelt, past participle shackelt)

  1. to shackle

Etymology

From Middle English schakkyl, schakle, from Old English sceacel, sceacul, scacul ‎(“shackle, bond, fetter”), from Proto-Germanic *skakulaz ‎(“shackle”), from Proto-Indo-European *skeg-, *skek- ‎(“to jump, move, shake, stir”), equivalent to shake +‎ -le. Cognate with Dutch schakel ‎(“link, shackle, clasp”), German Schäckel ‎(“shackle”), Danish skagle ‎(“a carriage trace”), Swedish skakel ‎(“the loose shaft of a carriage”), Icelandic skökull ‎(“a carriage pole”).

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -ækəl

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