shackle
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shackle¹
- /ˈʃækl̩/ UK
- /ˈʃæk(ə)l/ US
Rhymes with -ækəl
Where it comes from
From Middle English shakel, schakkyl, schakle (“a fetter, shackle; coupling used to connect a plough or wagon to a draft chain”), from Old English sċacul, sċeacel, sċeacul (“fetter, shackle”), from Proto-West Germanic *skakul, from Proto-Germanic *skakulaz (“shackle”), possibly from *skakaną (“to shake; to swing; to escape”), from Proto-Indo-European *skeg-, *skek- (“to shake; to stir”). However, this is doubted by the Oxford English Dictionary because *skeg-, *skek- lack the meaning of attaching or fastening.
Etymology 1 sense 3 (“length of cable or chain equal to 12½ or 15 fathoms”) derives from the original distance between two shackles (etymology 1 sense 1.1.3) connecting lengths of cable or chain together.
Cognates
* Danish skagle (“carriage trace”)
* Dutch schakel (“clasp; link; shackle”)
* German Schäckel (“shackle”)
* Icelandic skökull (“carriage pole”)
* Swedish skakel (“loose shaft of a carriage”)
noun shackles
-
A restraint fitted over a human or animal appendage, such as an ankle, finger, or wrist, normally used in a pair joined by a chain.
The prisoner lay in shackles in his gloomy cell.
Similar: fetter
-
A U-shaped piece of metal secured with a bolt or pin across the ends, or a hinged metal loop secured with a quick-release locking pin mechanism, used for attaching things together while allowing for some degree of movement; a clevis.
Similar: fetter
-
Part of a padlock that consists of a loop of metal (round or square in cross section) that encompasses what is being secured by the lock.
Similar: fetter
-
A hook, ring, or other device for connecting, holding, lifting, etc.; specifically (nautical), a small incomplete ring secured with a bolt across the ends, used to connect lengths of cable or chain together, or to keep a porthole closed.
Shackles come in various sizes and are used to join recovery items to the vehicle or to each other. They come in two shapes and are known as either bow shackles or D-shackles. The bow shackle is the preferred shape because it permits easier attachment of bulky items and is the most common style of s
Similar: fetter
- Synonym of hobble or hopple (“a short strap tied between the legs of a horse, allowing it to wander a short distance but not to run off”). Soles, fetters, ⁊ ſhackles, with horſelock and pad, / a cow-houſe for winter, ſo meete to be had: / A ſtie for a bore, and a hogſcote for hog, / a rooſt for thy hennes, and a couch for thy dog.
- A link for connecting railroad cars; a draglink, drawbar, or drawlink.
-
Ellipsis of shackle-bone (“wristbone, carpal; wrist”).
Similar: fetter
-
A fetter-like band worn on an appendage as an ornament; an anklet, an armlet, a bracelet, a wristlet.
They firſt vvaſh the dead body, paint him, clothe him, and ſo conueigh him to his Dormitorie, vvhich is ſpacious and neat, vvherein they bury his Armolets, Bracelets, Shackles and ſuch Treaſure, concluding their Ceremonies vvith Mimmicke geſtures and eiaculations: vvhich, vvith the Sacrifice of a Go
Similar: fetter
- A restraint on one's action, activity, or progress. [A] Servant commonly is leſs free in Mind than in Condition; his very VVill ſeems to be in bonds and ſhackles, and Deſire it ſelf under a kind of Durance and Captivity.
- A length of cable or chain equal to 12½ fathoms (75 feet or about 22.9 metres), or later to 15 fathoms (90 feet or about 27.4 metres). Once the cables are at five shackles to each anchor, stop engines and stop windlass operations. The vessel will then be seen to lie to five shackles on the Port (Riding Cable) and five shackles on the starboard (Sleeping Cable).
shackle²
- /ˈʃækl̩/ UK
- /ˈʃæk(ə)l/ US
Rhymes with -ækəl
Where it comes from
From Middle English schakelen, schakkylen (“(also figurative) to put (someone) in shackles; to protect (legs) with greaves”), from shakel, schakkyl, schakle (noun) (see etymology 1) + -en (suffix forming the infinitives of verbs).
verb shackles · shackling · shackled · shackle
-
To place (a person or animal) in shackles (noun etymology 1 sense 1); to immobilize or restrain using shackles.
A man giuen ouer to ſenſual appetite carrieth fetters in his eyes, vvhervvith he shackleth, glevv, vvhervvith he layeth faſt hold, hookes, vvhervvith he catcheth, flames vvhervvith he burneth, ſhafts, vvhervvith he transfixeth both his ovvne and the ſoules of other men: ſhackled vvith theſe fetters,
Similar: beshackle, cuff, enshackle, fetter, handcuff, manacle · Opposite: uncuff, unfetter, unhandcuff, unmanacle, unshackle
- To connect or couple (something) to another thing using a shackle (noun etymology 1 sense 1.1.1, etymology 1 sense 1.1.3, etc.).
- To provide (something) with a shackle.
-
To inhibit or restrain the ability, action, activity, or progress of (someone or something); to render (someone or something) incapable or ineffectual.
This law would effectively shackle its opposition.
Similar: bind, hamshackle, tie · Opposite: free, liberate, unbind, unshackle, untie
- To combine (a substance) with another substance. Bitterneſs is produced by a Sulphur vvell impregnated, either vvith an Alkaline, or an Acid Salt, but alſo ſhackled vvith Earth.
- Of two things: to connect or couple together.
shackle³
- /ˈʃækl̩/ UK
- /ˈʃæk(ə)l/ US
Rhymes with -ækəl
Where it comes from
From shack (“variant of shake”), shake (verb) + -le (suffix forming agent nouns; frequentative suffix forming verbs).
noun shackles
- A person who is idle or lazy; an idler.
- A dice game; also, an event at which tickets are sold for chances to be drawn to win prizes; a raffle.
verb shackles · shackling · shackled
- To rattle or shake (something).
- To put (something) into disorder; specifically (agriculture), to cause (standing stalks of corn) to fall over.
- Often followed by about: to be idle or lazy; to avoid work.
Shackle⁴
proper noun
- A surname
Translations
Every language
noun restraint fitted over an appendage
| Español | grillete, grillos |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 수갑 sugap |
| 日本語 | 手錠 tejō |
| 中文 | 手銬 /手铐 shǒukào |
| Português | algema, ferros, grilhão, grilhetas |
| Français | fers, menottes |
| Deutsch | Fessel, Handschellen |
| Italiano | ceppo, ceppi, ferri, maniglia, maniglione |
| Русский | кандалы́ kandalý, нару́чники narúčniki, око́вы okóvy, у́зы úzy |
| Tiếng Việt | xích, xiềng xích, xiềng |
| العربية | قَيْد qayd, غِلّ ḡill |
| עברית | אֲזִקִּים aziqím |
noun U-shaped piece of metal secured with a bolt or pin across the ends for attaching things together
| Español | grillete |
|---|---|
| Português | manilha |
| Français | manille |
| Deutsch | Schäkel |
| Italiano | anello con perno, grillo |
| Ελληνικά | αγκύλιο agkýlio |
| Русский | карабин karabin, мо́чка móčka, соедини́тельная ско́ба sojedinítelʹnaja skóba, хому́т xomút |
verb to place (a person or animal) in shackles; to immobilize or restrain using shackles
| Español | engrilletar, engrillar |
|---|---|
| Français | enchainer |
| Italiano | ammanettare, incatenare |
| Русский | заковать zakovatʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | xích, xiềng, xiềng xích |
verb to inhibit or restrain the ability, action, activity, or progress of (someone or something) — see also inhibit, restrain
| 中文 | 约束 yuēshù |
|---|---|
| Français | enchainer |
| Italiano | asservire, assoggettare, soggiogare, sottomettere |
Talk about this word "shackle." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/shackle. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. shackle. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/shackle "shackle." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/shackle.Cite this
@misc{shackle_2026,
title = {shackle},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/shackle},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
