from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
noun A restraining device consisting of a pair of strong, connected hoops that can be tightened and locked about the wrists and used on one or both arms of a prisoner in custody.
transitive verb To put handcuffs on (a person).
transitive verb To restrain or render ineffective. synonym: hobble.
from The Century Dictionary.
noun A shackle or fastening for the hand, consisting of a divided metal ring placed about and locked upon the wrist; a manacle.
To manacle; restrain by or as if by placing handcuffs upon the wrists.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
transitive verb To apply handcuffs to; to manacle.
noun A fastening, consisting of an iron ring around the wrist, usually connected by a chain with one on the other wrist; a manacle; -- usually in the plural.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
noun One ring of a locking fetter for the hand or one pair.
verb To apply handcuffs to; to manacle. - Hay (1754)
verb figuratively to restrain or restrict.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
verb confine or restrain with or as if with manacles or handcuffs
noun shackle that consists of a metal loop that can be locked around the wrist; usually used in pairs
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
1775, from hand + cuff (“end of shirtsleeve”).
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Examples
Right now the only thing that makes police reluctant to handcuff is Miranda concerns.
And yet you, Mr. President, more than a half-century later, authorized subjecting prisoners to this technique for up to 72 hours, or 40 hours if combined with standing in handcuff restraints.
And yet you, Mr. President, more than a half-century later, authorized subjecting prisoners to this technique for up to 72 hours, or 40 hours if combined with standing in handcuff restraints.
minouchette commented on the word handcuff
engagement ring
October 8, 2010