subs. (old).—1. A gang of thieves; (2) a rendezvous for thieves, harlots, or gamesters; and (3) a prison. Hence ACADEMICIAN = (1) a thief; and (2) a harlot. Also BUZZING-ACADEMY = a training school for pickpockets; CANTING-ACADEMY = (1) a common lodging-house, a DOSSING-KEN (q.v.), or house of call for beggars, and (2) a likely house for WORKING (q.v.); FLOATING-ACADEMY = the hulks; CHARACTER-ACADEMY = a resort of servants without characters, which are there concocted; and GAMMONING-ACADEMY = a reformatory (B. E., GROSE, BEE, MATSELL).
1668. SIR R. L’ESTRANGE, The Visions of Quevedo (1678), 143. Gaming Ordinaries are called ACADEMIES.
