A padded cell is a small room with padded walls in a mental hospital or prison, where a person who may behave violently can be put so that they do not hurt themselves.
padded cell in British English
noun
a room, esp one in a psychiatric hospital, with padded surfaces in which violent inmates are placed
padded cell in American English
a cell, or room, for the confinement of violent patients or prisoners, lined with heavy, soft material as a protection against injury
Examples of 'padded cell' in a sentence
padded cell
Then you are padlocked in a strait-jacket and thrown into a padded cell for years and years.
Ian St James Awards AT THE STROKE OF TWELVE (2002)
It blurred perspective and gave the room the feel of a padded cell.
James Birrell THE MANANA MAN (2002)
How would they react, his university colleagues, were he led away, gibbering, to a padded cell ?
Fraser, Anthea DEATH SPEAKS SOFTLY (2002)
If she had to spend one more second alone with herself, she'd start screaming until she got put in a padded cell somewhere.