Bilboes
/ˈbɪl.boʊz/noun
Iron bars or shackles used to confine a person's legs, especially aboard ships or in prisons.
Did you know?Shakespeare used “bilboes” in The Tempest, where the word evokes imprisonment and the brutal discipline of life at sea.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
Spanish
Bilbao
“The Basque port city in northern Spain, historically associated with iron production and export.”
Late 16th Century
English
bilbo
“A sword or blade made from iron or steel associated with Bilbao.”
Late 16th Century
English
bilboes
“Iron shackles or leg irons, apparently named by association with Bilbao ironwork.”
1611
English
bilboes
“Leg restraints or shipboard irons, recorded in early modern English usage.”
Modern English
English
bilboes
“Historical iron bars or shackles used to restrain the legs.”
Explore more surprising origins