Coffle definitions
| Word backwards | elffoc |
|---|---|
| Part of speech | Coffle is a noun. |
| Syllabic division | cof-fle |
| Plural | The plural of coffle is coffles. |
| Total letters | 6 |
| Vogais (2) | o,e |
| Consonants (3) | c,f,l |
Coffle
Definition and Historical Context
A coffle is a group of enslaved people who are chained together and forced to march in a line to a new location. This practice was commonly used during the transatlantic slave trade to transport enslaved individuals from one place to another. The term originates from the Arabic word "qafila," which means a caravan or convoy.
Process and Treatment of Enslaved Individuals
When a group of enslaved individuals was formed into a coffle, they would be chained together by their wrists or necks and forced to walk in a line. The pace and distance of the march were often determined by the captors, leading to physical exhaustion, injuries, and sometimes death among the enslaved individuals. The treatment of those in a coffle was harsh and dehumanizing, with little regard for their well-being or basic needs.
Impact on Enslaved Individuals
Being part of a coffle had a profound psychological and physical impact on enslaved individuals. The experience of being chained and marched in a group, often for long distances, was traumatizing and degrading. Many enslaved individuals faced violence, abuse, and exploitation during these marches, further adding to their suffering.
Abolition and Legacy
As the abolitionist movement gained momentum and slavery was eventually abolished in various parts of the world, the practice of forming a coffle came to an end. However, the legacy of this brutal and inhumane method of transportation lives on in historical accounts and narratives of the transatlantic slave trade. Remembering the plight of those who suffered in coffles serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities committed during that dark period of history.
Coffle Examples
- The coffle of slaves was marched through the town.
- The coffle of pack animals slowly made its way up the mountain.
- She watched as the coffle of prisoners was led away.
- The coffle of tourists followed the guide through the ancient ruins.
- The coffle of ants marched in a straight line across the pavement.
- The coffle of students moved through the crowded hallway.
- The coffle of vehicles inched forward in the traffic jam.
- The coffle of hikers snaked its way through the forest trail.
- The coffle of refugees trudged wearily towards the border.
- The coffle of cars rolled slowly through the car wash.