manacles

Manacle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Manacled; p. pr. & vb. n. Manacling.] — Webster enters it under “manacle”

To put handcuffs or other fastening upon, for confining the hands; to shackle; to confine; to restrain from the use of the limbs or natural powers. Is it thus you use this monarch, to manacle and shackle him hand and foot Arbuthnot.

1 other Webster entry under this spelling

Manacle, n.

A handcuff; a shackle for the hand or wrist; -- usually in the plural. Doctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand. Ecclus. xxi. 19.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for manacles; he lists it under fetter.

Where he writes about it:

Manacles and handcuffs are for the hands, fetters are primarily chains or jointed iron fastenings for the feet; gyves may be for either. — from fetter

Synonyms

fetter bondage bonds chains custody durance duress gyves handcuffs imprisonment irons shackles

Antonyms

none given

etymology Webster’s online