a ring or other fastening, as of iron, for securing the wrist, ankle, etc.; fetter.
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.
–verb (used with object)
6.
to put a shackle or shackles on; confine or restrain by a shackle or shackles.
7.
to fasten or couple with a shackle.
8.
to restrain in action, thought, etc., as by restrictions; restrict the freedom of.
[Origin: bef. 1000; (n.) ME schakle, schakyl(le); OE sceacel fetter; c. LG schakel hobble, ON skǫkull wagon pole, (v.) late ME schaklyn, deriv. of the n.]
O.E. sceacel, from P.Gmc. *skakula- (cf. M.Du., Du. schakel "link of a chain," O.N. skökull "pole of a carriage"), of uncertain origin. The common notion of "something to fasten or attach" makes a connection with shake unlikely. The verb is first recorded c.1440. Shacklebolt "bolt which passes through the eyes of a shackle" is recorded from 1688.
Shac"kle\, n. [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. sk["o]kull 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\, v. 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.
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