handcuffs
n. plural-onlyn. two metal rings joined by a chain that police put around a person's wrists. They are used to stop someone from moving their hands or escaping.
n. a pair of metal rings connected by a short chain or hinge, designed to be locked around the wrists of a person to restrict their movement.
The police officer put handcuffs on the suspect.
After a brief chase, the officer caught the thief and quickly secured the handcuffs behind the man's back.
The suspect sat quietly in the back of the patrol car, his wrists bound by heavy steel handcuffs that glinted under the streetlights as the vehicle pulled away from the scene.
1775, from hand + cuff (“end of shirtsleeve”). Possibly influenced by Old English handcops, from hand + cops (“fetter, chains”), but due to lack of continuity (centuries between Old English and modern term), generally analyzed as a re-invention.
Takes a plural verb; often used with the classifier 'pair of'.
The police used a handcuff to catch him.The police used handcuffs to catch him.Handcuffs is a plural-only noun; even when referring to one set of rings, the plural form must be used.
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golden handcuffs
Any arrangement or agreement designed to provide extremely favorable benefits or pay, so as to discourage a participant from choosing to leave it, especially to retain a choice employee in a role that is unpleasant to them.
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velvet handcuffs
Golden handcuffs: any arrangement designed to provide favorable benefits or pay so as to discourage a participant from choosing to leave it.