Old spelling of COUNTER sb. (q.v. for etymology and history), formerly used in all senses, and from the 17th c. the official spelling of the word as:
The name of certain city prisons for debtors, etc., in London, Southwark, Exeter, etc.
The two London Compters or Counters are mentioned in the 15th c.: they were the Poultry C., taken down in 1817, and the Bread Street C., succeeded in 1555 by the Wood Street C., and this in 1791 by the Giltspur Street C., closed in 1854.
1428–1700. [see COUNTER].
1617. Fennor (title), The Comptor’s Commonwealth, or a Voiage made to an Infernall Iland.
c. 1630. Risdon, Surv. of Devon, § 107 (1810), 111. In the south gate are two common prisons, also a coumpter, for such as be arrested upon actions at any man’s suit.
a. 1652. Brome, Damoiselle, I. i. Wks. 1873, I. 387. How got you hither? Could not the Compter hold you?
1683. Secret Serv. Moneys Chas. II. & Jas. II. (1851), 83. To Richard Normansell, secondary of Wood Street Compter.
1777. Howard, Prisons Eng. (1780), 36. The two Compters are near enough to be taken care of by the same gentlemen.
1829. London in 19th c., II. 117. [a print of ‘Giltspur Street Compter’ as then existing.]
1879. Morley, Burke, 43. If the House of Commons could send their citizens to Newgate, they could send its messenger to the Compter.
