boarding school
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Bridewell, Newgate, or any other prison, or house of correction.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “boarding school” mean?
Bridewell, Newgate, or any other prison, or house of correction.
Is “boarding school” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.