A straitjacket is a special device in the form of a shirt made of thick fabric or belts with metal fasteners, placed on the body of a person, usually a prisoner, to restrict his freedom of movement. Can be used either alone or in combination with other methods of physical restraint (shackles, chains, stocks). The name of the straitjacket comes from the instrumental meaning of the French word "smyr", that is, compression, or from the medieval Italian term "smir", which in Old French sounded like "smiris" - that is, a compressive fetter or belt.
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