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Bridle vs Shackle - What's the difference?

bridle | shackle |

As nouns the difference between bridle and shackle

is that bridle is the headgear with which a horse is directed and which carries a bit and reins while shackle is a restraint fit over a human or animal appendage, such as a wrist, ankle or finger usually used in plural, to indicate a pair joined by a chain; a hobble.

As verbs the difference between bridle and shackle

is that bridle is to put a bridle on while shackle is to restrain using ; to place in shackles.

bridle

English

(wikipedia bridle)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The headgear with which a horse is directed and which carries a bit and reins.
  • * 1961 , J. A. Philip, "Mimesis in the Sophistês," Proceedings and Transactions of the American Philological Association 92, p. 457:
    • the horseman, who is the user of bridles and knows their use
  • (figurative) A restraint; a curb; a check.
  • A length of line or cable attached to two parts of something to spread the force of a pull, as the rigging on a kite for attaching line.
  • A mooring hawser.
  • A piece in the interior of a gunlock which holds in place the tumbler, sear, etc.

    • Derived terms

    * bridle path * bridlewise

    Verb

    (bridl)
  • To put a bridle on.
  • * Drake
    • He bridled her mouth with a silkweed twist.
  • To check, restrain, or control with, or as if with, a bridle; as in bridle your tongue .
  • * Burke
    • Savoy and Nice, the keys of Italy, and the citadel in her hands to bridle Switzerland, are in that consolidation.
  • To show hostility or resentment.
    • Immigrant-rights and religious organizations bridled at the plan to favor highly skilled workers over relatives.'' (''Houston Chronicle , 6/8/2007)

    Derived terms

    * unbridle

    Synonyms

    * restrain

    shackle

    English

    (wikipedia shackle)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A restraint fit over a human or animal appendage, such as a wrist, ankle or finger. Usually used in plural, to indicate a pair joined by a chain; a hobble.
  • A U-shaped piece of metal secured with a pin or bolt across the opening, or a hinged metal loop secured with a quick-release locking pin mechanism.
  • (figuratively, usually in plural) A restraint on one's action, activity, or progress.
  • * South
    • His very will seems to be in bonds and shackles .
  • A fetter-like band worn as an ornament.
  • * Dampier
    • Most of the men and women had all earrings made of gold, and gold shackles about their legs and arms.
  • A link for connecting railroad cars; a drawlink or draglink.
  • stubble
    • (Pegge)

    Hyponyms

    * handcuff / handcuffs * manacle / manacles * fetter

    Derived terms

    * harp shackle

    Verb

    (shackl)
  • To restrain using ; to place in shackles.
  • By extension, to render immobile or incapable; to inhibit the progress or abilities of someone or something.
    • This law would effectively shackle its opposition.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=February 12 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Man Utd 2 - 1 Man City , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Rooney, superbly shackled by City defender Vincent Kompany for so long as Ferguson surprisingly left Dimitar Berbatov on the bench, had previously cut a forlorn and frustrated figure but his natural instincts continue to serve him and United so well.}}

    Antonyms

    *(to restraint using shackles) unshackle, untie *(to inhibit the abilities of) free, liberate, unshackle

    Anagrams

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