Shackle
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Physical Restraint
Refers to actual devices used to physically restrict someone’s movement. The guards fastened shackles around the prisoner's ankles.
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Historical Usage
Shackles have historical ties to slavery and imprisonment. Historians describe how slaves were transported in shackles.
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Symbol of Oppression
Metaphorically, shackles can represent a lack of freedom or oppression. Poets often use shackles as a symbol for lack of liberty.