balls and chains

A form of ball and chain — A heavy iron ball attached to a prisoner's leg by a chain as a means of restraint.

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Meanings

noun
  1. pluralplural of ball and chain
Cite this entry
APA

balls and chains. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/balls%20and%20chains

MLA

“balls and chains.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/balls%20and%20chains. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “balls and chains,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/balls%20and%20chains.

Source: balls and chains on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.