What does the ol ball and chain mean?

Definition of ball and chain

: something that limits one's freedom or ability to do things Drugs are a ball and chain for many people. (old-fashioned) He referred to his wife as "the ball and chain."

Where did the term old ball and chain come from?

What's the origin of the phrase 'Ball and chain'? The allusion being to the presumption that a man's wife held him back from doing the things he really wanted to. This, of course, refers back to the actual ball and chain, which was a heavy metal ball secured to a prisoner's leg by means of a chain and manacle.

What is a chain with a ball on the end called?

A Mace and Chain, also called a chain mace (or a flail), is a variation on the medieval weapon and agricultural tool called a flail. It usually has a chain wrapped in leather or other material with a spiked steel ball on the end.

How is the old ball and chain?

A jocular but disparaging term for a person's spouse or significant other who is thought to stifle the person in some way. Typically said of a wife or girlfriend.

What is the name of a ball and chain?

Ball-and-chain synonyms

(Slang, US) One's girlfriend, wife or significant other.

Ball and Chain Basics: Blood Bowl - Theory Thursday (Bonehead Podcast)

Are ball and chain still used?

The ball and chain was mainly used in the British Empire and its penal colonies. It was used from the 17th century until as late as the mid 20th century.

Who invented the ball and chain?

The World's #1 Ball Chain Manufacturer

(Ball Chain) is the world's largest manufacturer of ball chain and related accessories. Founded in 1938 by Frank Taubner and his son, Val, in the garage behind their home in the Bronx, Ball Chain has grown to employ more than 95 people.

What does old ball mean?

Old-ball definition

(cricket) A cricket ball that has been used in a previous match; one that has been used in the current match for over 30 overs. noun.

When did ball and chain Open?

Ball & Chain opened in 1935 on The Trail, the iconic street in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood now famously known as “Calle Ocho.” Over the next two decades, legendary artists of the day graced the stage, including Billie Holiday, Count Basie and Chet Baker.

How do you use chain and ball in a sentence?

1. The responsibility was a ball and chain around my ankle. 2. At which point she unlocked her ball and chain.

Why did prisoners have ball and chain?

A type of shackle, the ball and chain is designed so that the weight of the iron ball at the end of the short chain restricts and limits the pace at which its wearer is able to move, making any attempt at escape much more difficult.

What is a ball chain necklace?

Ball chain is chain with round beads or metal balls that are fixed along the chain. It is commonly used in dog tag style necklaces and key chains. It can also be used as a base for large-hole jewelry. This chain is commonly used or finished with ball chain connectors at the ends.

What is the medieval weapon with a spiked ball?

The morning star is a medieval weapon consisting of a spiked ball mounted on a shaft, resembling a mace, usually with a long spike extending straight from the top and many smaller spikes around the particle of the head.

Why is marriage called the ball and chain?

Marriage was prison (albeit with privileges), wives were wardens, and husbands wore a metaphorical ball and chain, the sort that prisoners wore to prevent escaping.

Who Owns ball and chain?

This is the latest development in a public sparring match that spanned years. In 2019, Ball & Chain's co-owner, Bill Fuller, accused Commissioner Joe Carollo of illegally targeting his businesses after Fuller supported Carollo's political rivals.

Why did Ball and Chain close?

Ball & Chain bar and restaurant was shut down Oct. 22, after the city revoked its certificate of occupancy. It came hours after Miami city commissioner Joe Carollo co-sponsored legislation that could force a zoning administrator to revoke a business' certificate of use.

Is Ball and Chain open again?

Nearly a year after closing in November 2020, Ball & Chain has announced it will reopen, bringing back its famous midnight conga line, mojito, and live music lineup. On Wednesday, October 20, Ball & Chain announced on social media that it would be reopening its Little Havana lounge.

What is the meaning of the idiom Big Apple?

Throughout the nineteenth century, the term meant “something regarded as the most significant of its kind; an object of desire and ambition.” To “bet a big apple” was “to state with supreme assurance; to be absolutely confident of” [Oxford English Dictionary].

Why is it called a Morningstar?

Morning Stars were first popularized in Germany during the fourteenth century. The name (originally Morgenstern) seems to reference the shape of the head like a star – although this is not confirmed. The Morning Star resembles a mace, which was developed somewhat independently.

Does a Morningstar have a chain?

The Morningstar depicted in the show is a chained flail. However Morningstars also existed as maces (a single metal club without the chain). It is rare for a one-handed flail to have a chain at a similar or longer length than its handle.

What is a scythe on a chain called?

The kusarigama (鎖鎌^?, "chain-scythe") is a traditional Japanese weapon that consists of a kama (the Japanese equivalent of a sickle) on a metal chain (kusari) with a heavy iron weight (fundo) at the end. The kusarigama is said to have developed during the Muromachi period.

How does the ball chain work?

The balls are hollow and have two small antipodal holes. These holes accept a short length of wire deformed on the end like a rivet so that the end is bound inside the ball. The wire is then connected to another ball using the same method. Many of the balls and wires are joined together to form a chain.

Are ball chains strong?

When it's made from quality materials, the ball chain is a very strong type of chain.

What type of chain are dog tags on?

Dog Tags are sold separately.

- These stainless steel chains do not rust. - These are MilSpec #3 size chains. The ball diameter is 2.4mm or 3/32 inches.

What is an Oregon boot?

The infamous shackle called the Oregon Boot was still in limited use at the Oregon State Penitentiary during Prohibition. Attached to one ankle, the device was designed to keep the prisoner off balance so he could not move quickly. Prisoners called it a "man-killer" because it caused extreme physical pain. (