I. ˈshakəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English schakel, schakle, from Old English sceacul; akin to Middle Dutch schakel link of a chain, Old Norse skökull pole of a cart
1. : something that confines the legs or arms so as to prevent their free motion: as
a. : a ring or band enclosing ankle or wrist and fastened to something else (as its mate) by a chain or a strap : manacle , fetter
b. : a hobble for a horse
2. : something that acts like fetters to check or prevent free action — usually used in plural
throw off the party shackles and do what was best for their country — Elie Abel
the subtle, intimate, soul-gripping shackles of memory and usage that held her by the roots — Timothy Wharton
free enterprise without the shackles of government control — W.M.Blair
those who have tossed off the shackles of illiteracy — Ben Bradford
must release ourselves from the shackles of yesterday's traditions and let our minds be bold — Hubert Humphrey
want no shackles on the mind or the spirit — A.E.Stevenson b.1900
3. : any of various devices for making something fast: as
a. : a U-shaped metal fitting with a pin through the ends : clevis , coupling — compare anchor shackle
b. : one of the U-shaped parts that join a spring in a vehicle to its hanger
c. : the link that engages with the staple in a padlock
d. : one of the rope handles for a sea chest
4. : a length of cable or anchor chain usually 15 feet
II. verb
( shackled ; shackled ; shackling -k(ə)liŋ ; shackles )
Etymology: Middle English schaklen, from schakel, schakle, n.
transitive verb
1.
a. : to confine the limbs of so as to prevent free motion : bind with or as if with shackles : fetter , chain
b. : to make fast with a shackle : join , couple
shackle each end of a spring to the axle
got in the port anchor and shackled it on the cable — H.A.Chippendale
shackled the policemen together with their own handcuffs — Jan Valtin
2.
a. : to deprive of freedom especially of action by means of restrictions or handicaps : impede , hamper
the illiterate, often with heavy physical and mental handicaps, shackled by habits of irritability and poor family background — Dixon Wecter
shackled with precedents
shackled with inherited conventions
shackled by superstition
people shackled by poor leadership
b. : to tie (a person or thing) to something that is detrimental
the vast resources of the film industry remain predominantly shackled to its entertainment deities — E.D.Canham
Synonyms: see hamper
III. intransitive verb
Etymology: probably from English dialect shack to idle, loaf (from English shack ) (II) + English -le
dialect : to wander around idly : loaf