coffle

Definition

A line of people or animals fastened together, especially a chain of prisoners or slaves.

Etymology

From Arabic قَافِلَة (qāfila, “caravan”). Doublet of cafila.

Example Sentences

• "The people of the coffle spent the day in drying such articles as were wet, and in cleaning ten pairs of ornamented pistols with shea-butter."
• "I hear the wheeze of the slave-coffle, as the slaves march on, as the husky gangs pass on by twos and threes, fastened together with wrist-chains and ankle-chains,"
• "If the explorer could make Kamalia he might be able to hook up with a slave coffle heading for the coast."