manetta

handcuff

noun mah-NET-tah Rare

Origin: Diminutive of mano (hand), via Latin manus.

Also means

throttle lever

Usage Note

Manetta in the singular can mean a throttle or control lever (aviation/nautical), while the plural manette almost exclusively means handcuffs: mettere le manette means 'to handcuff'. Learners should note the number-dependent meaning shift. A manetta is also a colloquial adverb meaning 'at full throttle' or 'flat out'.

Examples

"La polizia mise le manette al sospettato."

Natural Translation

The police handcuffed the suspect.

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