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Definition of 'chain gang'

Word Frequency

chain gang

Word forms: plural chain gangs
countable noun
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.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

chain gang in British

noun
US
a group of convicted prisoners chained together, usually while doing hard labour
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

chain gang in American

a gang of prisoners chained together, as when working outdoors
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Example sentences containing 'chain gang'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
In 1810 he was sent to Van Diemen's Land, put in a chain gang and set to hew a road through the iron-hard sandstone country behind Hobart. Colleen McCullough THE THORN BIRDS (1977)

Trends of 'chain gang'

Used Rarely. chain gang is in the lower 50% of commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Nearby words of 'chain gang'

  • chain
  • chain and sprocket drive
  • chain drive
  • chain gang
  • chain grate
  • chain letter
  • chain lightning

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'C'

Source

Definition of chain gang from the Collins English Dictionary

Responses

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