v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Hackled p. pr. & vb. n. Hackling ] 1. To separate, as the coarse part of flax or hemp from the fine, by drawing it through the teeth of a hackle or hatchel. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To tear asunder; to break in pieces. [ 1913 Webster ]

The other divisions of the kingdom being hackled and torn to pieces. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Heckle, and cf. Hatchel. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A comb for dressing flax, raw silk, etc.; a hatchel. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any flimsy substance unspun, as raw silk. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One of the peculiar, long, narrow feathers on the neck of fowls, most noticeable on the cock, -- often used in making artificial flies; hence, any feather so used. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An artificial fly for angling, made of feathers. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Ham + shackle. ] To fasten (an animal) by a rope binding the head to one of the fore legs; as, to hamshackle a horse or cow; hence, to bind or restrain; to curb. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] Loose; disjointed; falling to pieces; out of repair. [ 1913 Webster ]

There came . . . my lord the cardinal, in his ramshackle coach. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To search or ransack; to rummage. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Stubble. [ Prov. Eng. ] Pegge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Generally used in the plural. ] [ OE. schakkyll, schakle, AS. scacul, sceacul, a shackle, fr. scacan to shake; cf. D. schakel a link of a chain, a mesh, Icel. skökull the pole of a cart. See Shake. ] 1. Something which confines the legs or arms so as to prevent their free motion; specifically, a ring or band inclosing the ankle or wrist, and fastened to a similar shackle on the other leg or arm, or to something else, by a chain or a strap; a gyve; a fetter. [ 1913 Webster ]

His shackles empty left; himself escaped clean. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, that which checks or prevents free action. [ 1913 Webster ]

His very will seems to be in bonds and shackles. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A fetterlike band worn as an ornament. [ 1913 Webster ]

Most of the men and women . . . had all earrings made of gold, and gold shackles about their legs and arms. Dampier. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A link or loop, as in a chain, fitted with a movable bolt, so that the parts can be separated, or the loop removed; a clevis. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A link for connecting railroad cars; -- called also drawlink, draglink, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The hinged and curved bar of a padlock, by which it is hung to the staple. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shackle joint (Anat.), a joint formed by a bony ring passing through a hole in a bone, as at the bases of spines in some fishes. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Shackled p. pr. & vb. n. Shackling. ] 1. To tie or confine the limbs of, so as to prevent free motion; to bind with shackles; to fetter; to chain. [ 1913 Webster ]

To lead him shackled, and exposed to scorn
Of gathering crowds, the Britons' boasted chief. J. Philips. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Figuratively: To bind or confine so as to prevent or embarrass action; to impede; to cumber. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shackled by her devotion to the king, she seldom could pursue that object. Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To join by a link or chain, as railroad cars. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Shackle bar, the coupling between a locomotive and its tender. [ U.S. ] --
Shackle bolt, a shackle. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ 1st pref. un- + shackle. ] To loose from shackles or bonds; to set free from restraint; to unfetter. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]