subs. (old).—1. A fee or FOOTING (q.v.); specifically one exacted by gaolers and old prisoners from a newcomer. The practice was forbidden by 4 Geo. IV., c. 43, sec. 12. Also GARNISH-MONEY.
1592. GREENE, A Quip for an Upstart Courtier, in works, xi., 256. Let a poore man be arrested into one of the counters [prisons] … he shall be almost at an angel’s charge, what with GARNISH [etc.].
1606. T. DEKKER, The Seven Deadly Sinnes of London, p. 28 (ARBER’S ed.). So that the Counters are cheated of Prisoners, to the great dammage of those that shoulde haue their mornings draught out of the GARNISH.
1632. JONSON, The Magnetic Lady, v. 6.
| You are content with the ten thousand pound, | |
| Defalking the four hundred GARNISH-MONEY? |
1704. STEELE, The Lying Lover, Act iv., Sc. iv. But there is always some little trifle given to prisoners, they call GARNISH.
1752. FIELDING, Amelia, Bk. I., ch. iii. Mr. Booth … was no sooner arrived in the prison, than a number of persons gathered round him, all demanding GARNISH.
1759. GOLDSMITH, The Bee, No. 5, p. 385 (Globe ed.). There are numberless faulty expenses among the workmen—clubs, GARNISHES, freedoms, and such like impositions.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch. xliv. [Jailor loq.] Thirty shillings a week for lodgings, and a guinea for GARNISH.
2. (thieves’).—Fetters; handcuffs. For synonyms, see DARBIES.
Verb. (thieves’).—To fit with fetters; to handcuff.
