| 释义 |
ˈpress-yard Obs. exc. Hist.
[f. press v.1 1 b + yard.]
Name of a yard or court of old Newgate Prison, in which the torture of peine forte et dure (peine, press v.1 1 b) is supposed to have originally been carried out; and from which, at a later period, capitally convicted prisoners started for the place of execution.
1654Gayton Pleas. Notes iii. v. 99 It was as good and all one, as if God had done it with the Country, or else the Presse-yard had ended the quarrell. 1717(title) The History of the Press-Yard: or a Brief Account of the Customs and Occurrences..to be met with in.. His Majesty's Goal of Newgate in London. Ibid. 3 The Press-Yard being no part of the Prison, but taken in as a part of the Governor's House..it is in the Keeper's Breast to refuse any Prisoner a Reception there without a Conditional Premium. a1720Sewel Hist. Quakers (1722) vii. 374 Bidding the Turnkey bring down the said Prisoners to him in the Press-yard. 1771Chron. in Ann. Reg. 161/1 Their wives and children were admitted into the press-yard to take their leave of them before they set out [for the gallows at Tyburn]. 1780Newgate Cal. V. 109 Being brought down into the press-yard, his irons were knocked off, and he was put into the cart. 1840Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. i. Execution, Round the debtors' door Are gather'd a couple of thousand or more; As many await At the press-yard gate. 1906Daily Chron. 5 Oct. 4/7 The new Old Bailey... There will be no ‘peine forte et dure’, commemorated in the name Press Yard. |