safety chain

noun

1

a

: a normally slack chain for preventing excessive movement between a railroad car truck and a car body in sluing

b

: a heavy chain by which railroad cars may be connected to protect against accidental uncoupling

2

: a small chain used as a secondary safeguard on a piece of jewelry (as a watch or bracelet)

3

: a chain formed of sheet metal links with an elongated hole through each broad end and constructed by a repeated series of doubling a link upon itself, slipping the next link through the two now superimposed holes of the first, and doubling it

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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