Advertisement

Origin and history of manacle

manacle(n.)

mid-14c., manicle, "an iron fetter for the hand" (usually in plural), from Old French manicle "manacles, handcuffs; bracelet; armor for the hands," from Latin manicula "handle," literally "little hand," diminutive of manicae "long sleeves of a tunic, gloves; armlets, gauntlets; handcuffs, manacles," from manus "hand" (from PIE root *man- (2) "hand"). Related: Manacles.

In every cry of every man,
In every infant's cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forged manacles I hear
[Blake, "Songs of Experience"]

manacle(v.)

"to fetter with manacles, confine the hands of with handcuffs," c. 1300, manaclen, from manacle (n.). Figuratively, "restrain the will or action of," by 1570s. Related: Manacled; manacling.

Entries linking to manacle

in cookery, 1946, from Italian manicotti, said to mean literally "hand-warmers, muff," from Latin manicae "long sleeves of a tunic, gloves; armlets, gauntlets; handcuffs" (see manacle (n.)).

Middle English sleve, from Old English sliefe (West Saxon), slefe (Mercian) "arm-covering part of a garment," probably literally "that into which the arm slips," from Proto-Germanic *slaubjon (source also of Middle Low German sloven "to dress carelessly," Old High German sloufen "to put on or off"), from PIE root *sleubh- "to slide, slip."

It is related etymologically to Old English slefan, sliefan "to slip on (clothes)" and slupan "to slip, glide." Also for the sense, compare slipper, Old English slefescoh "slipper," slip (n.2) "woman's garment," and expression slip into "dress in."

The mechanical sense of "tube in which a rod or another tube is inserted" is by 1864. The meaning "the English Channel" translates French La Manche, literally "the sleeve" (from Old French manche "a sleeve," also "a handle," from Latin manicae "long sleeves of a tunic;" see manacle (n.)).

The figurative expression have something up (or in) one's sleeve, "have ready as occasion demands," is recorded from c. 1500 (the long, pendant sleeves of the late Middle Ages also sometimes doubled as pockets); to have a card (or ace) up one's sleeve in the figurative sense of "have a hidden resource" is from 1863; the cheat itself is mentioned by 1840s. To wear one's heart on (one's) sleeve is from "Othello" (1604). For laugh in one's sleeve see laugh (v.).

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "hand."

It might form all or part of: amanuensis; command; commando; commend; countermand; demand; Edmund; emancipate; legerdemain; maintain; manacle; manage; manciple; mandamus; mandate; manege; maneuver; manicure; manifest; manipulation; manner; manque; mansuetude; manual; manubrium; manufacture; manumission; manumit; manure; manuscript; mastiff; Maundy Thursday; mortmain; Raymond; recommend; remand; Sigismund.

It might also be the source of: Hittite maniiahh- "to distribute, entrust;" Greek mane "hand," Latin manus "hand, strength, power over; armed force; handwriting," mandare "to order, commit to one's charge," literally "to give into one's hand;" Old Norse mund "hand," Old English mund "hand, protection, guardian," German Vormund "guardian;" Old Irish muin "protection, patronage."

    Advertisement

    More to explore

    Share manacle

    Advertisement
    Trending
    Advertisement