battery pack
n.— «Brannon was described by a local gang investigator as a “battery pack” within his gang set, a term used to describe a member who is always on the streets, willing to do anything for the gang. The investigator said Brannon has been sent a variety of gang tasks, from murders to decoy tasks.» —“Net widens for accidental fugitive” by Andrew Kitchenman The Times (New Jersey) June 14, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
A playwright from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, wonders if anyone outside her home region says they’re going down the shore to mean they’re “going to the beach.” Go down the shore is often used in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and parts of...
What’s up with ketchup? The shifting history and spelling of the name of this condiment. For centuries, ketchup was a fishy sauce originating in Asia—the tomatoes came only later! Plus, a new book shows what’s lost when a language dies: when there...