darbies
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Handcuffs.—Old Cant.—See JOHNNY DARBIES. Sir Walter Scott mentions these, in the sense of fetters, in his Peveril of the Peak—
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “darbies” mean?
Handcuffs.—Old Cant.—See JOHNNY DARBIES. Sir Walter Scott mentions these, in the sense of fetters, in his Peveril of the Peak—
Is “darbies” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.