ETYM AS. fetor, feter; akin to OS. feterôs, pl., OD. veter, Old High Germ. fezzera, Icel. fjöturr, Latin pedica, Greek pede, and to Eng. foot. Related to Foot.
A shackle for the ankles or feet; SYN. hobble.

1. Something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress; SYN. deterrent, impediment, handicap.
2. Something that impedes or is burdensome; SYN. hitch, preventive, preventative, encumbrance, incumbrance, interference.
3. The act of hindering or obstructing or impeding; SYN. interference, interfering.

ETYM Latin impedimentum: cf. French impediment.
An obstacle, hindrance; speech defect.

ETYM French, from Latin obstaculum, from obstare to withstand, oppose; ob (see Ob-) + stare to stand. Related to Stand. and cf. Oust.
1. An object that stands in the way (and must be removed or surmounted or circumvented).
2. Something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted; SYN. obstruction.

ETYM Latin obstructio.
1. Anything that makes progress difficult; SYN. impediment, impedimenta.
2. Getting in someone's way.
3. The act of obstructing.

1. A U-shaped bar; the open end can be passed through chain links and closed with a bar.
2. Anything that restrains (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner); SYN. bond, hamper, trammel, trammels.
3. Obsolete unit of length, used at sea for measuring cable or chain. One shackle is 15 fathoms (90 ft/27 m).

ETYM Formerly tedder, Old Eng. tedir.
1. A long rope or chain by which an animal is fastened or restrained, so that it can range or feed only within certain limits.
2. Any restraint, literal or figurative.