Marshalsea

[ mahr-shuhl-see ]

noun

, British History.

1. the court of the marshal of the royal household.
2. a debtors' prison in London, abolished in 1842.

Marshalsea

/ ˈmɑːʃəlˌsiː /

noun

1. (formerly in England) a court held before the knight marshal: abolished 1849
2. a prison for debtors and others, situated in Southwark, London: abolished in 1842

Word History and Origins

Origin of Marshalsea¹

1350–1400; Middle English marchalsye, variant of marschalcie. See marshal, -cy

Word History and Origins

Origin of Marshalsea¹

C14: see marshal , -cy

Example Sentences

The condemned felon has as good a yard for air and exercise in Newgate, as the insolvent debtor in the Marshalsea Prison.

From Project Gutenberg

The shabby old debtor with the soft manners and the white hair became the Father of the Marshalsea.

From Project Gutenberg

The next day the debtor's wife came to the Marshalsea, bringing with her a little boy of three, and a little girl of two.

From Project Gutenberg

The Child of the Marshalsea learned needlework of an insolvent milliner, and went out daily to work for a Mrs. Clennam.

From Project Gutenberg

Little as she had always looked, she looked less than ever when he saw her going into the Marshalsea Lodge passage.

From Project Gutenberg