irons

10 7.7

Metal cuffs that hold a prisoner's hands or legs together

noun
/ˈaɪərnz/

Archaic

: grilletes

During the trial, the defendant's irons clanked as he was led into the courtroom.

Examples

After the escape attempt, the guards placed heavy irons on his wrists.
But of course, he looks at the front of it, he sees XI Feng, his soul enters the mirror, and he is dragged away in iron chains to die.
The prisoner was locked in irons to prevent any escape.

Synonyms

chain

vsirons

263 1.0

A line of metal rings joined together used to fasten or hold things

is less specific serving many fastening uses not only limb restraint

cuff

vsirons

114 5.6

A metal band that locks around the wrist to stop a person from moving their hands

is the broader term for restraints used on hands or legs

shackle

vsirons

52 7.1

A metal U-shaped clamp used to join heavy things together

is used specifically to restrain limbs of people especially in custody

manacle

vsirons

5 8.6

A metal ring that locks around a wrist to stop someone moving

is more general covering restraints for hands or legs not only wrists

gyve

vsirons

Archaic

1 9.9

A metal shackle that holds someone's hands or feet

is the general modern word for similar restraints on hands or legs

Antonyms

release

282 1.8

An act of letting someone or something go free from being held

freedom

2 1.1

Not having to do something a rule requires

How Restrictive

straitjacket

21 7.8

irons

Archaic

10 7.7

manacle

5 8.6

restraint

67 4.7

Surface Forms

iron singular

irons plural

Morphology

irons = iron (semi-transparent) = iron + s

Formed as the plural of 'iron' (metal/object), but the specialized sense 'shackles' is a specific extension that may not be fully predictable to learners.

Etymology

Irons comes from the metal iron, because handcuffs and shackles were made from that strong 'metal'. So being 'in irons' means being held by metal bonds, which explains why irons means chains used to restrain prisoners.