Hogtying

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The action of confining a person's arms and legs in a restrictive manner to inhibit movement
2. The act of securely fastening a person's hands and feet together to prevent escape or movement
3. A method of restraining someone by tying their arms and legs behind their back in a compact posture

Etymology: "Hogtying" is the present participle and gerund of "hogtie," so the verb is what carries the history. "Hogtie" is a compound of "hog" and "tie," and its sense is literal: to bind the four legs of an animal together, the way a pig or other livestock might be restrained for transport or slaughter. The image of tying a creature's legs in this way is what gives the word its force when applied to a person, since it describes restraint so complete that the limbs can no longer move freely. Used of people, the word keeps that same picture. Rather than simply tying the hands, the restraint gathers the wrists and ankles together, which is why the term suggests a more severe immobilization than ordinary binding. The metaphor depends entirely on the animal sense, so the modern meaning is best understood as the older livestock image carried over to human bodies.

Synonyms: bind, tie, restrict, secure, fasten

Antonyms: free, release, liberate, untie, unfasten