Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: BILBOES
Definition: Bilboes were a type of punishment device used on ships in the past. They consisted of a board with holes where an offender's hands and feet were secured, or an iron bar with sliding shackles that confined a prisoner's ankles. It was a way to keep people from escaping or causing trouble while on board a ship.
Definition: Bilboes (bil-bohz) is a historical device used for punishment at sea. It consists of a board with holes that secure an offender's hands and feet. It is similar to stocks used on land. It is also an iron bar with sliding shackles for confining the ankles of prisoners, especially on ships.
These examples illustrate how bilboes were used to punish offenders at sea. Pirates and mutineers were often put in bilboes to prevent them from escaping or causing trouble. The device was used to keep prisoners in place and prevent them from moving around the ship.