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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HAPSHACKLE, v., n. Also hapshackel, -shekel, hopshackle; †habshaikel, ¶habjaickle, †hobshakle; also with m, hamshackle (Ags., Per., Dmf.), -shachle (Dmf.); †hamschakel.

I. v. To tie an animal up in such a way as to prevent it from straying, e.g. by binding its fore-legs or its head and fore-leg, or its fore- and hind-leg together (Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl., hamschakel, habshaikel, hobshakle; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 253; Slk. 1825 Jam.; Kcb.⁴ 1900; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ags., m.Lth., Peb., Kcb., Dmf. 1956).Ayr. 1789 Burns Reliques (Cromek 1808) 423:
Nae handcuff'd, mizl'd, hap-shackl'd Regent, But, like himsel, a full free agent.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet II. i.:
Some job that would hamshackle him at least until the Courts rose.Slk. 1829 Hogg Shep. Cal. (1874) xviii.:
Disna the tying o' my cloutit breeks brek loose, and in a moment they war at my heels, and there was I standing like a hapshekel'd staig!Ayr. 1855 H. Ainslie Poems 25:
Syne clapt his loofs, an' winkt, an' cackl'd, While Jeanie stood like ane hapshackled.Sc. 1925 Scots Mag. (Jan.) 277:
That last hin' en' frost gat sic a fell glaum o' the verra saul o' ma treckle that it's hapshackelt an' bun-up i' the barrel!

II. n. A hobble used for tethering a horse or cow, a fetter, shackle (Gall., Slk. 1825 Jam.; e.Rs.¹ 1929, habjaickle). Also used fig.Abd. 1794 Sc. N. & Q. (Series 2) VI. 183:
An' feather'd fiends ower lowans linket, Wi' their hapshackles.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 216:
No creatures in a crib, — no horses in hap shackles.Slk. a.1835 Hogg Tales (1874) 282:
O then, I have got this matrimonial hapshackle off, and am free.