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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'

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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'

Source

Definition of chain gang from the Collins English Dictionary

WH- words

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