suicide smock
n.— «Police have invented a “suicide smock” to stop prisoners from killing themselves in Queensland’s overcrowded watchhouses. A smock was used last Thursday night at Beenleigh watchhouse after police rescued a 30-year-old prisoner who tried to hang himself with strips from a torn-up pillow-slip. They are like a dressing gown made of heavy unrippable material and prisoners can wear them when other clothing that can be used in a suicide attempt is taken away.» —“‘Suicide’ smock” Sunday Mail (Queensland, Australia) June 18, 1995. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
In 1803, a shy British pharmacist wrote a pamphlet that made him a reluctant celebrity. The reason? He proposed a revolutionary new system for classifying clouds — with Latin names we still use today, like cumulus, cirrus, and stratus. Also: when...
Barbara Kingsolver’s book Demon Copperhead is a retelling of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield set in today’s Appalachia. Martha shares memories of a long-ago visit to Kingsolver’s family farm in Virginia, where they...