shackle

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English

A shackle—a U-shaped piece of metal.

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle English schakkyl, schakle, from Old English sċeacel, sċeacul, sċacul (“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”).

Noun

shackle (plural shackles)

  1. (usually in the plural) A restraint fit over a human or animal appendage, such as a wrist, ankle or finger; normally used in pairs joined by a chain.
    Synonym: hobble
    Hyponyms: handcuff, manacle, fetter
  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.
    Coordinate term: clevis
  3. (figuratively, usually in the plural) A restraint on one's action, activity, or progress.
    • (Can we date this quote by South and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      His very will seems to be in bonds and shackles.
    • 1876, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter XXXV, in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Hartford, Conn.: The American Publishing Company, →OCLC, pages 269–270:
      He had to eat with a knife and fork; he had to use napkin, cup, and plate; he had to learn his book, he had to go to church; he had to talk so properly that speech was become insipid in his mouth; whithersoever he turned, the bars and shackles of civilization shut him in and bound him hand and foot.
    • 1964, “Sister Suffragette”, performed by Glynis Johns:
      Cast off the shackles of yesterday! / Shoulder to shoulder into the fray!
  4. A fetter-like band worn as an ornament.
    • (Can we date this quote by Dampier and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      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. A length of cable or chain equal to 12.5 fathoms or 75 feet, or later to 15 fathoms.
  7. Stubble.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Pegge to this entry?)
Derived terms
Translations
stubble — see stubble

Further reading

Etymology 2

From Middle English schakelen, schakkylen, from the noun (see above).

Verb

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  1. (transitive) To restrain using shackles; to place in shackles.
  2. (transitive, by extension) To render immobile or incapable; to inhibit the progress or abilities of.
    This law would effectively shackle its opposition.
    • 2011 February 12, Phil McNulty, “Man Utd 2 - 1 Man City”, in BBC‎[1]:
      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

Etymology 3

From shack (“shake”) +‎ -le.

Verb

shackle (third-person singular simple present shackl, present participle ing, simple past and past participle shackled)

  1. (dialectal) To shake, rattle.

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

Noun

shackle (plural shackles)

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

Derived terms

Verb

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

  1. to shackle
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