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chain gang

noun
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Definition of chain gang

: a gang of people (such as convicts) chained together especially as an outside working party

Examples of chain gang in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In 1933, Langston Hughes wrote an essay on black incarceration for the Soviet edition of a novel about chain gangs. — Constance Grady, Vox, "The Booker Prize longlist includes a book that is just a single thousand-page sentence," 27 July 2019 Inmates on the jail's chain gang and other work crews will read to, play with and give treats to dogs at the Animal Care Center during the peak hours of celebration on Thursday, Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in a statement on Facebook. — Michelle Lou, CNN, "Florida inmates will spend their Fourth of July comforting dogs in an animal shelter," 4 July 2019 The origins of the law can be traced back to when chain gangs were common in the late 1920s. — Kathleen Joyce, Fox News, "Alabama sheriff who bought beach house after pocketing $750G from inmate food fund gets voted out," 7 June 2018 Arpaio forced his prisoners to march in pink underwear, work in chain gangs, shower in boiling-hot water, and eat rotten food (the sheriff boasted about this last point). — Eric Levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Mike Pence Praises Joe Arpaio As Tireless Champion of the ‘Rule of Law’," 2 May 2018 In the mid-1990s, Fob James campaigned for a second term as governor on a law-and-order platform of school and prison reform that included support for corporal punishment and the reinstatement of chain gangs. — Anna Claire Vollers, AL.com, "Paddling is legal in Alabama, but some teachers arrested for excessive force," 11 Apr. 2018 The Saints coach strives for lasers instead of the chain gang to handle down and distance (basically goodbye to index cards determining a first down). — Larry Holder, NOLA.com, "Sean Payton and the red challenge flag: a hate-hate relationship," 28 Mar. 2018 Even Jughead, boy leader of a chain gang, is creeped out. — refinery29.com, "Riverdale Season 2, Episode 14 Recap: "The Hills Have Eyes"," 8 Mar. 2018 In 1933, Langston Hughes wrote an essay on black incarceration for the Soviet edition of a novel about chain gangs. — Constance Grady, Vox, "The Booker Prize longlist includes a book that is just a single thousand-page sentence," 27 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chain gang.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of chain gang

1830, in the meaning defined above

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The first known use of chain gang was in 1830

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Cite this Entry

“Chain gang.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chain%20gang. Accessed 8 December 2019.

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More Definitions for chain gang

chain gang

noun

English Language Learners Definition of chain gang

: a group of prisoners who are chained together while they do work outside the prison

See the full definition for chain gang in the English Language Learners Dictionary

chain gang

noun

Legal Definition of chain gang

: a group of convicts chained together especially to work outside a prison

More from Merriam-Webster on chain gang

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with chain gang

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