Old Sparky
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Nickname for an electric chair used for executions.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
[…]and I think that, for most of those men, the truth of what was happening to them finally hit all the way home when their ankles were being clamped to the stout oak of “Old Sparky’s” legs.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “Old Sparky” mean?
Nickname for an electric chair used for executions.
Is “Old Sparky” formal or informal?
Old Sparky is generally slang.