suicide cable

Etymology
So called because when one end is plugged into a live outlet, the exposed prongs of the other end are highly dangerous.

Noun

 * 1)  A simple electrical cord with prongs on both ends; plugging one end into a live outlet (for example a generator) and the other end into a dead outlet (in a house with no power) allows power to be injected from the live outlet into the dead one.
 * When the hurricane hit and I lost power, I fired up the generator and jacked it in to the outlet in my garage with a suicide cable; at least I was able to run a few lights and my refrigerator.

Synonyms