shackle
shack·le/ˈʃæk(ə)l/noun, verb
shackle is spelled S-H-A-C-K-L-E: 7 letters and 2 syllables (shack·le). It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 49,368th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, shackle means “A restraint fitted over a human or animal appendage, such as an ankle, finger, or wrist, normally used in a pair joined by a chain” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of shackle is shackles.
How many letters and syllables are in shackle?
| Letters | 7: S-H-A-C-K-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: shack·le |
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 49,368th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is shackle?
Shackle appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 49,368th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce shackle?
- UK /ˈʃækl̩/
- US /ˈʃæk(ə)l/
Shackle has 2 syllables, split shack·le in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-shackle.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of shackle
- shackles plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- shackling participle, present
- shackled participle, past, singular, he/she/it, plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does shackle mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A restraint fitted over a human or animal appendage, such as an ankle, finger, or wrist, normally used in a pair joined by a chain.
The prisoner lay in shackles in his gloomy cell.
- 2
A U-shaped piece of metal secured with a bolt or pin across the ends, or a hinged metal loop secured with a quick-release locking pin mechanism, used for attaching things together while allowing for some degree of movement; a clevis.
- 3
Part of a padlock that consists of a loop of metal (round or square in cross section) that encompasses what is being secured by the lock.
- 4
A hook, ring, or other device for connecting, holding, lifting, etc.; specifically (nautical), a small incomplete ring secured with a bolt across the ends, used to connect lengths of cable or chain together, or to keep a porthole closed.
- 5
Synonym of hobble or hopple (“a short strap tied between the legs of a horse, allowing it to wander a short distance but not to run off”).
- 6
A link for connecting railroad cars; a draglink, drawbar, or drawlink.
- 7
ScotlandarchaicEllipsis of shackle-bone (“wristbone, carpal; wrist”).
- 8
obsoleterareA fetter-like band worn on an appendage as an ornament; an anklet, an armlet, a bracelet, a wristlet.
- 9
UKA person who is idle or lazy; an idler.
- 10
UKA dice game; also, an event at which tickets are sold for chances to be drawn to win prizes; a raffle.
verb
- 1
To place (a person or animal) in shackles (noun etymology 1 sense 1); to immobilize or restrain using shackles.
- 2
To connect or couple (something) to another thing using a shackle (noun etymology 1 sense 1.1.1, etymology 1 sense 1.1.3, etc.).
- 3
To provide (something) with a shackle.
- 4
To inhibit or restrain the ability, action, activity, or progress of (someone or something); to render (someone or something) incapable or ineffectual.
This law would effectively shackle its opposition.
- 5
obsoleteTo combine (a substance) with another substance.
- 6
Of two things: to connect or couple together.
- 7
UKTo rattle or shake (something).
- 8
UKTo put (something) into disorder; specifically (agriculture), to cause (standing stalks of corn) to fall over.
- 9
UKOften followed by about: to be idle or lazy; to avoid work.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Shackle in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | fers, menottes , manille , entrave , enchainer |
| German | Fessel, Handschellen , Schäkel |
| Portuguese | algema, ferros, grilhão, grilhetas , manilha |
| Spanish | grillete, grillos , engrilletar, engrillar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does shackle come from?
From Middle English shakel, schakkyl, schakle (“a fetter, shackle; coupling used to connect a plough or wagon to a draft chain”), from Old English sċacul, sċeacel, sċeacul (“fetter, shackle”), from Proto-West Germanic *skakul, from Proto-Germanic *skakulaz (“shackle”), possibly from *skakaną (“to shake; to swing; to escape”), from Proto-Indo-European *skeg-, *skek- (“to shake; to stir”). However, this is doubted by the Oxford English Dictionary because *skeg-, *skek- lack the meaning of attaching or fastening.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).