A street in London near Covent-Garden, in which the principal metropolitan police-court is situated: hence Bow-street officer, -runner, etc., a police officer.
1812. Examiner, 19 Oct., 663/1. Supported by a Bow-street Officer.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, xxx. ‘It’s the runners!’… ‘The what!’… ‘The Bow-street officers.’
