manacle

manacle [man-uh-kuh l] ExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for manacle on Thesaurus.com noun

1. a shackle for the hand; handcuff.
2. Usually manacles. restraints; checks.

verb (used with object), man·a·cled, man·a·cling.

3. to handcuff; fetter.
4. to hamper; restrain: He was manacled by his inhibitions.

Origin of manacle 1275–1325; Middle English, variant of manicle Middle French: handcuff Latin manicula small hand, handle of a plow. See manus, -i-, -cle1 Related formsun·man·a·cled, adjective Related Words for manacle fetter, chain, bracelet, shackle, iron, bond, pinion Examples from the Web for manacle Contemporary Examples of manacle

Yet Romney happily slid his leg into this manacle, slammed down the padlock, and threw the key into the river.

Michael Tomasky: Obama’s High-Stakes Gamble on Gay Marriage

Michael Tomasky

May 10, 2012

Historical Examples of manacle

As yet, my hand has not known the manacle, nor my feet the gyves!

The Pirate and The Three Cutters

Frederick Marryat

And, remember, if it becomes necessary, I can activate the manacle.

The Players

Everett B. Cole

In manacle and manumission we read the story of human slavery and freedom.

The World I Live In

Helen Keller

He came over and looked at the manacle about my leg and shook his head.

The Clue of the Twisted Candle

Edgar Wallace

She then took the key of the manacle out of her dress, and released me.

The Privateersman

Frederick Marryat

British Dictionary definitions for manacle manacle noun

1. (usually plural) a shackle, handcuff, or fetter, used to secure the hands of a prisoner, convict, etc

verb (tr)

2. to put manacles on
3. to confine or constrain

Word Origin for manacle C14: via Old French from Latin manicula, diminutive of manus hand Word Origin and History for manacle n.

mid-14c., “a fetter for the hand,” from Old French manicle “manacles, handcuffs; bracelet; armor for the hands,” from Latin manicula “handle,” literally “little hand,” diminutive of manicae “long sleeves of a tunic, gloves; armlets, gauntlets; handcuffs, manacles,” from manus “hand” (see manual (adj.)). Related: Manacles.

In every cry of every man,
In every infant’s cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forged manacles I hear

[Blake, “Songs of Experience”] v.

c.1300, “to fetter with manacles,” from manacle (n.). Related: Manacled; manacling.