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Noun: straightjacket  'streyt,ja-kit
  1. A garment similar to a jacket that is used to bind the arms tightly against the body as a means of restraining a violent person
    "The patient was placed in a straightjacket for his own safety";
    - straitjacket
     
  2. Anything immaterial that severely hinders or confines
    "they defected because Russian dance was in a straightjacket";
    - straitjacket
Verb: straightjacket  'streyt,ja-kit
  1. Put someone into a straitjacket
    "The violent patient had to be straightjacketed";
    - straitjacket
     
  2. Impose severe restrictions (on someone)
    "The new regulations straightjacketed the company's growth plans";
    - straitjacket

Derived forms: straightjackets, straightjacketing, straightjacketed

Type of: balk, baulk [Brit], check, deterrent, garment, handicap, hinderance [rare], hindrance, impediment

Encyclopedia: Straightjacket