handcuffs
English · Thesaurus
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
handcuffs¹
- /ˈhændˌkʌfs/
Where it comes from
1775, from hand + cuff (“end of shirtsleeve”).
Possibly influenced by Old English handcops, from hand + cops (“fetter, chains”), but due to lack of continuity (centuries between Old English and modern term), generally analyzed as a re-invention.
noun
- A fastening consisting of two metal rings, designed to go around a person's wrists, and connected by a chain or hinge. It was the sergeant who had spoken to me, and he was now looking round at the company, with his handcuffs invitingly extended towards them in his right hand, and his left on my shoulder.
- Any abstract constraint, such as rules, regulations, or lack of resources. They complained that their rules of engagement were handcuffs that guaranteed counterproductivity.
handcuffs²
- /ˈhændˌkʌfs/
noun
- plural of handcuff
handcuffs³
- /ˈhændˌkʌfs/
verb
- third-person singular simple present indicative of handcuff
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: manacle, handlock, cuff, cuffs, bracelets, darbies, irons, manacles, honey, chains, constraints, restraints, restrictions, shackles, spouses, wives
Translations
Every language
noun metal rings for fastening wrists
| Español | esposas, grilletes, marrocas, chachas, grillas |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 수갑 sugap |
| 日本語 | 手錠 tejō |
| 中文 | 手銬 /手铐 shǒukào |
| हिन्दी | हथकड़ी hathakṛī |
| Português | algema |
| Français | menottes, entraves, bracelets |
| Deutsch | Handschellen, Handfesseln |
| Italiano | manette |
| Ελληνικά | χειροπέδες cheiropédes |
| Română | cătușe |
| Русский | нару́чники narúčniki |
| Tiếng Việt | còng, còng tay, còng số tám, còng số 8 |
| العربية | أَصْفَاد ʔaṣfād, أَغْلَال ʔaḡlāl |
| עברית | אֲזִקִּים azikím |
Talk about this word "handcuffs." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/handcuffs. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. handcuffs. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/handcuffs "handcuffs." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/handcuffs.Cite this
@misc{handcuffs_2026,
title = {handcuffs},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/handcuffs},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
