gyve

SayJYV/d͡ʒaɪv/

Pluralgyves

Verbgyves, gyving, gyved

2 meanings of gyve

Practice

1
nounliterarycountable
A shackle or fetter, especially one fastened around the leg.
The jailer struck off the gyve and let the man rub his raw ankle.
Heavy gyves bound the captive's legs as the ship rolled through the night.
Similarshackle, fetter, manacle, chain, iron
2
verbtransitive
To bind a person with shackles or chains, especially around the legs.
Soldiers gyve their captives at the wrist and ankle before transport.
The warden ordered his men to gyve the rebel to the dungeon wall.
Similarshackle, fetter, chain, manacle
Oppositeunshackle, unchain, free

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Origin

From Middle English, found only in the plural gives or gyves meaning shackles or fetters. Its origin is uncertain, but it possibly comes from Celtic, compare Welsh gefyn (fetter) and Irish geimheal (chain), traced back to Proto-Celtic *gem- and Proto-Indo-European *gem- (to squeeze or press). The modern /dʒ/ pronunciation comes from the spelling, and the verb derives from the noun.