• IPA: /ˈʃækəl/

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.

   Synonyms: hobble

   hypo en

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.

   cot en

3. (figuratively, usually, in the plural) A restraint on one's action, activity, or progress.

   • 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 1000326417 ↗, 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.

4. A fetter-like 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.

5. A link for connecting railroad cars; a drawlink or draglink.
6. A length of cable or chain equal to frac 12 fathoms or 75 feet, or later to 15 fathoms.
7. Stubble.

• French: menottes
• German: Handschellen, Fessel
• Italian: maniglia, maniglione, ceppo
• Portuguese: grilhão
• Russian: нару́чники
• Spanish: grillete, grillos

• French: manille
• German: Schäkel
• Italian: anello con perno, grillo
• Portuguese: manilha
• Russian: хому́т
• Spanish: grillete

• Russian: путы

• Russian: браслет

• Russian: сцепка

shackle (shackles, present participle shackling; past and past participle shackled)

1. (transitive) To restrain using shackle#Noun|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.

• (to restrain using shackles) unshackle, untie
• (to inhibit the abilities of) free, liberate, unshackle

• French: enchainer
• Italian: ammanettare, incatenare

• French: enchainer
• Italian: soggiogare, sottomettere, assoggettare, asservire

shackle (shackles, present participle shackling; past and past participle shackled)

1. (dialectal) To shake, rattle.