| 释义 |
shack·le
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 |