electric chair

electric chairnoun

• 1

  A chair-like device used for performing execution by electrocution.

  • The current path in an electric chair is from a scalp electrode to a calf electrode. The current is therefore passing the brain and the brain stem, the lung and the heart. It is believed that the person becomes unconscious immediately after current onset, but it is well known that death is not immediate. The electric chair was used for the first time in 1890, and the first jolt was with 1400 V 60 Hz applied for 17 seconds, which proved insufficient.
  • The electric chair has always been linked to Sing Sing.
• 2

  informalAn electrically powered wheelchair.

  • She much preferred her manual wheelchair, so we got into the routine of using the manual chair out of school, and the electric chair at school. The one thing that she did find amusing about the electric chair was that she had to take a 'driving test'.
  • While I was "driving" in my electric chair to the only liquor store in town, the owner of the store would always smile when he saw me and say, "I don't know if I should sell to you. I don't want to be responsible for you drinking and driving."
• 3

  governmenthobbieslifestyleA transitional hold in which an attacking wrestler hoists an opponent up onto his/her shoulders so that they are both facing in the same direction.