- chain gang
- {n.} A group of convicts or slaves in the old South who were chained together. * /Chain gangs are no longer an acceptable way of punishment, according to modern criminologists./
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
chain gang
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Chain gang — Chain Chain (ch[=a]n), n. [F. cha[^i]ne, fr. L. catena. Cf. {Catenate}.] 1. A series of links or rings, usually of metal, connected, or fitted into one another, used for various purposes, as of support, of restraint, of ornament, of the exertion… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
chain gang — n: a group of convicts chained together esp. to work outside a prison Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 … Law dictionary
chain gang — chain gangs N COUNT In the United States, a chain gang is a group of prisoners who are chained together to do work outside their prison. Chain gangs existed especially in former times … English dictionary
chain gang — n. a gang of prisoners chained together, as when working outdoors … English World dictionary
chain gang — n a group of prisoners chained together to work outside their prison … Dictionary of contemporary English
chain gang — chain ,gang noun count a group of prisoners who are chained together while they work outside … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
chain gang — chain′ gang n. a group of convicts chained together • Etymology: 1825–35 … From formal English to slang
chain gang — ► NOUN ▪ a group of convicts chained together while working outside the prison … English terms dictionary
Chain gang — For other uses, see Chain gang (disambiguation). 1894 illustration of chain gang performing manual labor … Wikipedia
chain gang — noun a gang of convicts chained together • Hypernyms: ↑gang, ↑crew, ↑work party * * * noun 1. : a gang of convicts chained together especially as an outside working party 2. slang : one of two or more railroad train crews ta … Useful english dictionary
chain gang — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms chain gang : singular chain gang plural chain gangs a group of prisoners who are chained together while they work outside … English dictionary
