or chain lightning, subs. (American).—Whiskey of the vilest description—a spirit ‘warranted to kill at forty rods.’ Hence FORTY ROD LIGHTNING, STONE-FENCE, RAILROAD, ROT-GUT, and KILL-THE-CARTER (Scots’). For synonyms, see DRINKS. In the Western States of America, what is known as forked lightning in England, is called CHAIN-LIGHTNING, from its forming a sequence of zig-zags.
1871. DE VERE, Americanisms p. 215. The worst of lickers, as the signboards often have it in unconscious irony, is called CHAIN-LIGHTNING, from its terrible strength and stunning effect.
