What is Ball and chain?
[[File:Sagalund - Fotbojor.jpg|thumb]] A '''ball and chain''' is a device historically worn by [[prisoner]]s. It consists of a heavy [[iron]] [[ball]] attached to the prisoner's [[ankle]] with a [[chain]] and [[shackle]]. It stops the prisoner from running away. The ball and chain was mainly used in the [[British Empire]] and its [[Penal colony|penal colonies]]. It was used from the 17th century until as late as the mid 20th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1209405/First-intact-ball-chain-drowned-prisoner-mud-Thames.html|title=Found: The ball and chain that may have condemned a 17th century prisoner to a watery grave in the Thames|publisher=Daily Mail, London|date=27 August 2009|accessdate=1 March 2013}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Law enforcement equipment]] {{stub}}