Ball and chain

A ball and chain is a physical restraint device historically used on prisoners, from the 1880s to the 1940s.

Ball and chain may also refer to:

• Flail, a medieval weapon with a spiked ball attached to a handle by a chain
• A pejorative term for a significant other who weighs down his or her spouse or partner with restrictions and demands
• Ball & Chain, a folkstyle and freestyle wrestling move where the opponents wrist is held between their own legs, making it easier to turn them onto their back
• Ball & Chain, a 2004 romantic comedy written by Thomas Mortimer
• "Ball 'n' Chain", obstacle enemies from the Mario series of video games
• Panapet, a ball-shaped portable novelty radio on a chain, produced by Panasonic in the early 1970s

Song titles

• "Ball and Chain", a song by Dutch singer Anouk
• "I Love You Like A Ball and Chain", a song by Eurythmics from their album Be Yourself Tonight, released: May 1985
• "Ball and Chain", a song by Anthony Hamilton from his 2005 album "Soulife"
• "Ball and Chain" (Elton John song), a song by Elton John from his 1982 album Jump Up!, also released as a single
• "Ball and Chain", a song by Live from their earliest album The Death of a Dictionary, when they were known as Public Affection
• "Ball and Chain", a song by XTC from their album English Settlement.
• "Ball and Chain", a song by Murder by Death from their album Red of Tooth and Claw
• "Ball and Chain" (Paul Overstreet song), a song by Paul Overstreet
• "Ball and Chain", a song by Poison from their 1990 album Flesh and Blood
• "The Ball and Chain", a single by house music producer Romanthony
• "Ball and Chain" (Social Distortion song), a 1990 song by Social Distortion from their album Social Distortion
• "Ball and Chain", a song by the band Sublime
• "Lucky Ball and Chain", a song by They Might Be Giants from their 1990 album Flood
• "Ball 'n' Chain", a song by Big Mama Thornton, covered by Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company
• "Psycho Ball & Chain", a song by the canadian Psychobilly Band The Creepshow

See also

• Chain gang