[f. FELON + -RY.] The whole body or class of felons. Originally applied to the convict population of Australia.
1837. J. Mudie, Felonry N. S. Wales, Introd. 6. The author has ventured to coin the word felonry as the appellative of an order or class of persons in New South Wales.
1850. Carlyle, Latter-d. Pamph., ii. 23. Interesting White Felonry who are not idle, but have enlisted into the Devil’s regiments of the line.
1858. T. McCombie, Hist. Victoria, xv. 224. To protest against the inundation of the Australian colonies with British felonry.
