gyve

Meaning

Noun

A shackle or fetter, especially for the leg.

Verb

To shackle, fetter, chain.

Synonyms

fetter

shackle

chain

enchain

hobble

hopple

plight

tether

tie down

trammel

bind

put into irons / chains

bondage

Pronounced as (IPA)

/d͡ʒaɪv/

Etymology

From Middle English *give, *gyve (found only in plural gives, gyves (“shackles; fetters”)). Of uncertain origin, possibly from low dialect taking from Celtic; compare Welsh gefyn (“fetter, shackle”), Irish geibbionn (“fetters”), geimheal (“fetter, chain, shackle”). The modern pronunciation with /dʒ/ is due to the spelling.
The verb is from Middle English given, gyven (“to shackle”), from the noun.