Legal Definitions - gyve

Gyve

A gyve refers to a historical device, typically a metal shackle, specifically designed to restrain a person's leg or legs. It was used to prevent movement, escape, or to enforce confinement.

• Example 1: Medieval Imprisonment
  During the Middle Ages, a lord who captured a rival knight might have him thrown into the castle's deepest dungeon. To ensure the knight could not escape, heavy iron gyves would be fastened around his ankles, often chained to a wall or floor ring, severely limiting his ability to move.

• Example 2: Transportation of Convicts
  In 18th-century Britain, individuals sentenced to penal transportation to distant colonies were often secured for the journey. Before being loaded onto a ship for the long voyage, convicts might have their legs placed in gyves to prevent mutiny or escape attempts while at sea or during stops.

• Example 3: Restraint of Captives
  In historical accounts of warfare or capture, defeated soldiers or prisoners of war might be subjected to various forms of restraint. To prevent their flight or resistance during forced marches or while held in temporary encampments, their legs could be bound with gyves, making any significant movement difficult and escape nearly impossible.