English · Slang Historical

steel

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

The House of Correction in London, formerly named the Bastile, but since shortened to STEEL. See BASTILE.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “steel” mean?

The House of Correction in London, formerly named the Bastile, but since shortened to STEEL. See BASTILE.

Is “steel” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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