electric chair

noun
1.
a chair used to electrocute criminals sentenced to death.
2.
the penalty of legal electrocution.
Origin
1870-75, Americanism
Examples from the web for electric chair
  • Chapman was interested in devising a more humane alternative to the electric chair or firing squad.
  • Responding to the report, the president has said he would be happy to sit in the electric chair on behalf of his country.
  • In those days, the electric chair was viewed as a humane instrument, however.
  • Visitors can see the original electric chair, authentic inmate contraband and officer's weapons.
British Dictionary definitions for electric chair

electric chair

noun (in the US)
1.
  1. an electrified chair for executing criminals
  2. the electric chair, execution by this method