bridewell

American  

[brahyd-wel, -wuhl] / ˈbraɪdˌwɛl, -wəl /

noun

British.

1. a prison.

---

bridewell British  

/ -wəl, ˈbraɪdˌwɛl /

noun

1. a house of correction; jail, esp for minor offences

---

Etymology

Origin of bridewell

First recorded in 1545–55; after a prison that formerly stood near the church of St. Bride in London

Example Sentences

After two weeks in the bridewell, Novelist Yehling changed his literary plans: "I think I'll join the Army and try to write a better book than Tolstoi's War and Peace."

From Time Magazine Archive

I think you were brought up in the university of bridewell; you have your rhetoric so ready at your tongue's end, as if you were never well warned when your were young.

From Locrine/Mucedorus by Shakespeare (spurious and doubtful works)

Quoth they, "Didst thou not bid us bear him to the bridewell?"; and quoth he, "Nay, I said not so; I bade you carry him to my palace after the ride."

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 07 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

As a matter of course the place was strongly built, heavily barred and massively bolted, being in these respects merely a commonplace replica of the average bridewell.

From The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore by Hutchinson, J. R. (John Robert)

Now, be Hivens, th' rich have invaded even th' coorts an' the bridewell.

From Mr. Dooley Says by Dunne, Finley Peter