Prison Lingo

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The words people use inside

A community dictionary for the slang, shorthand, and everyday expressions used in prison. One term may have more than one meaning. Add the context you know without naming private individuals.

Meanings of “Chow hall”

Chow hall

Daily life · HAB source-based starter entry

The place where meals are served.

HAB-written example:

We talked on the way to the chow hall.

Context: Source-documented usage; not a claim that everyone uses it this way.

Meaning paraphrased from Prison Journalism Project’s glossary (December 2024 version; checked September 9, 2026). Example written by HAB.

Know another meaning? Add it →

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