A strongly made chest or sale for money, documents, or other valuables.
1684. Lond. Gaz., No. 1969/4. Lost out of the Dutchess of Portsmouth’s Lodgings … a little strong Box with several things in it.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull, II. iv. 16. She would rob her father’s strong Box, for Money to give the young Fellows that she was fond of.
1741. Richardson, Pamela (ed. 3), I. 196. I ask’d her for my Money; and she said it was above in her strong Box.
1851. D. Jerrold, St. Giles, xi. 105. Safe as his parchments in his strong-box.
1871. Longf., Wayside Inn, II. Student’s T., Cobbler of Hagenau, 108. A heavy strong-box … Received, with a melodious sound, The coin that purchased Paradise.
fig. 1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, xi. Aristocr., Wks. (Bohn), II. 83. These are they who make England that strongbox and museum it is.
