The turned-up or separate band at the end of a sleeve; handcuffs used for restraining someone.
From Middle English cuffe, possibly from Old Norse kúfungr 'cap, hood.' The restraint meaning developed from the sleeve meaning, as early handcuffs resembled sleeve cuffs.
The word 'cuffs' beautifully demonstrates semantic broadening—from a simple clothing feature to a symbol of law enforcement, showing how functional objects can acquire powerful social meanings.
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