straitjacket

straitjacket

n. an article of clothing that was formerly used to restrain patients in psychiatric hospitals from injuring themselves or others and, in some cases, for punishment. It consisted of a canvas shirt with overlong sleeves that bound the patient’s arms to the chest and were wrapped around and then fastened behind the back. Currently, if a means of physical restraint for patients is needed a system of wrist and ankle holds that limit the patient’s range of motion is used. Also called camisole.