shackle n
1. a restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner) [syn: bond, hamper, trammel, trammels]
2. a U-shaped bar; the open end can be passed through chain links and closed with a bar v
3. bind the arms of [syn: pinion]
4. restrain with fetters [syn: fetter]

Shackle \Shac"kle\, n. Stubble. [Prov. Eng.] --Pegge.

Shackle \Shac"kle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shackled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shackling.]
1. To tie or confine the limbs of, so as to prevent free motion; to bind with shackles; to fetter; to chain. To lead him shackled, and exposed to scorn Of gathering crowds, the Britons' boasted chief. --J. Philips.
2. Figuratively: To bind or confine so as to prevent or embarrass action; to impede; to cumber. Shackled by her devotion to the king, she seldom could pursue that object. --Walpole.
3. To join by a link or chain, as railroad cars. [U. S.] Shackle bar, the coupling between a locomotive and its tender. [U.S.] Shackle bolt, a shackle. --Sir W. Scott.

Shackle \Shac"kle\, n. [Generally used in the plural.] [OE. schakkyll, schakle, AS. scacul, sceacul, a shackle, fr. scacan to shake; cf. D. schakel a link of a chain, a mesh, Icel. sk["o]kull the pole of a cart. See Shake.]
1. Something which confines the legs or arms so as to prevent their free motion; specifically, a ring or band inclosing the ankle or wrist, and fastened to a similar shackle on the other leg or arm, or to something else, by a chain or a strap; a gyve; a fetter. His shackles empty left; himself escaped clean. --Spenser.
2. Hence, that which checks or prevents free action. His very will seems to be in bonds and shackles. --South.
3. A fetterlike band worn as an ornament. Most of the men and women . . . had all earrings made of gold, and gold shackles about their legs and 220 catflap.bishopston.net dictd 1.11.2/rf on FreeBSD 8.1-STABLE <106981.76803.1288906005@catflap.bishopston.net>

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A shackle, also known as a gyve, is a U-shaped piece of metal secured with a clevis pin or bolt across the opening, or a hinged metal loop secured with a quick-release locking pin mechanism. They are used as a connecting link in all manner of rigging systems, from boats and ships to industrial crane rigging.

A carabiner is a variety of shackle used in mountaineering.

A pin shackle is closed with a clevis pin. Primarily used above the deck, pin shackles used to be the most common shackle used aboard boats. Pin shackles can be inconvenient to work with at times because they are secured using something else, usually a cotter pin or seizing wire.

The pin is threaded and one leg of the shackle is tapped. The pin may be captive, which means its mated to the shackle, usually with a wire. The threads may gall if over-tightened or have been corroding in salty air, so a liberal coating of lanolin or a heavy grease is not out of place on any and all threads. A shackle key or metal marlinspike are useful tools for loosening a tight nut.

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