v. t. [ Ham + shackle. ] To fasten (an animal) by a rope binding the head to one of the fore legs; as, to hamshackle a horse or cow; hence, to bind or restrain; to curb. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] Loose; disjointed; falling to pieces; out of repair. [ 1913 Webster ]

There came . . . my lord the cardinal, in his ramshackle coach. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To search or ransack; to rummage. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]