/ Dictionary / Index B ball and chain: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: ball' and chain' Pronunciation: [key] a heavy iron ball fastened by a chain to a prisoner's leg. burdensome restraint: The steady accumulation of small debts was a ball and chain to his progress. . a man's wife (often used facetiously). Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. Ballance ball-and-claw foot Related Content Daily Word Quiz: eccentric Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language