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.
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
arms. --Dampier.
4. A link or loop, as in a chain, fitted with a movable bolt,
so that the parts can be separated, or the loop removed; a
clevis.
5. A link for connecting railroad cars; -- called also
{drawlink}, {draglink}, etc.
6. The hinged and curved bar of a padlock, by which it is
hung to the staple. --Knight.
{Shackle joint} (Anat.), a joint formed by a bony ring
passing through a hole in a bone, as at the bases of
spines in some fishes.