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| shack·le [ shák'l ] |
noun (plural shack·les) |
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| Definition: |
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1. metal band on prisoner: a round metal band that can be opened or locked in order to hold the wrist or ankle of a captive, usually attached by chains in pairs or fours
(
often used in the plural
)
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2. binder for animal legs: a device used to hold together the legs of horses and other animals
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3. U-shaped fastener: a U-shaped bar that is fastened with a straight pin or bolt to hold something securely
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4. restraint on freedom: an oppressive restraint on something or somebody
(
often used in the plural
)
  mental shackles
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transitive verb (past and past participle shack·led, present participle shack·ling, 3rd person present singular shack·les) |
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| Definition: |
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1. restrict somebody: to restrict the freedom of somebody or something
felt shackled by the inflexible rules
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2. restrain somebody with shackles: to restrain somebody or an animal using shackles
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3. secure something with shackle: to connect or secure something with a shackle
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| [ Old English sceacul< Germanic, "fastening"] |
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| shack·ler noun |
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