General
stinger
What does stinger mean?
A DIY heating coil — usually two razor blades or bits of metal wired to a stripped power cord — dunked straight into a cup of water to boil it. Cooks noodles, brews coffee, makes the pruno warm. Also a great way to electrocute yourself or set the cell on fire, which is why staff confiscate them on sight.
"He had a stinger going under the bunk to heat up a cup of soup."
Origin
American prison slang. Named for the shock you get if you touch the water while it's running.
Frequently asked questions
What does stinger mean in prison?
A stinger is a bootleg immersion heater rigged from bare wires to boil water inside a cell.
How do you use stinger in a sentence?
He made a stinger out of some wires to heat up his coffee.
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