1. Heavy iron ball attached to a prisoner by a chain
   "In old movies, prisoners were often depicted wearing a ball and chain"
    
2. [informal] A restrictive burden, especially one that hampers freedom or progress; often used metaphorically to describe a difficult responsibility or obligation
   "He referred to his debt as a ball and chain"
    
3. [informal] A humorous or derogatory reference to one's spouse or romantic partner as a burden
   "He jokingly referred to his wife as his ball and chain"

Derived forms: ball and chains

Type of: bond, hamper, shackle, trammel

Encyclopedia: Ball and chain