rock pilen.
/ˈrɒk pʌɪl/, U.S. /ˈrɑk ˌpaɪl/ A heap of stones; frequently with allusion to the convict's task of breaking stones. Hence (U.S. slang): a jail or prison; (humorously) any place in which hard work is supposedly performed. Also (rarely): a large or imposing building.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > imprisonment > prison > [noun]
quarternOE
prisona1200
jailc1275
lodgec1290
galleya1300
chartrea1325
ward1338
keepingc1384
prison-house1419
lying-house1423
javel1483
tollbooth1488
kidcotec1515
clinkc1530
warding-place1571
the hangman's budget1589
Newgate1592
gehenna1594
Lob's pound1597
caperdewsie1599
footman's inn1604
cappadochio1607
pena1640
marshalsea1652
log-house1662
bastille1663
naskin1673
state prison1684
tronk1693
stone-doublet1694
iron or stone doublet1698
college1699
nask1699
quod1699
shop1699
black hole1707
start1735
coop1785
blockhouse1796
stone jug1796
calaboose1797
factory1806
bull-pen1809
steel1811
jigger1812
jug1815
kitty1825
rock pile1830
bughouse1842
zindan1844
model1845
black house1846
tench1850
mill1851
stir1851
hoppet1855
booby hatch1859
caboose1865
cooler1872
skookum house1873
chokey1874
gib1877
nick1882
choker1884
logs1888
booby house1894
big house1905
hoosegow1911
can1912
detention camp1916
pokey1919
slammer1952
joint1953
slam1960
1830 R. Montgomery Satan ii. 186 Coward Fancy should..Have heard the cloven rock-piles as they burst.
1837 W. Dearden Star-seer v. 120 But, o'er the being, cowering on the verge Of that impending rock-pile, breath the balm Of needed rest.
1874 Cleveland (Ohio) Daily Herald 27 Nov. 8/1 Later in the day the name of John Richards was blotted down on the books of the Work House keeper, and soon afterward he was wielding a stone hammer on the top of the rock pile.
1888 Congress. Rec. 1 May 3571/1 If this were a police court, the Senator from Indiana would be sent to the rock-pile for being drunk and disorderly.
1927 K. Eubank Horse & Buggy Days 127 We were..given 30 days on the rock pile or the privilege of leaving town on the first rattler out, which took us into Memphis.
1945 Seafarers' Log 13 Apr. 6/3 Had one of the Bull Line rock piles [i.e. a ship on board which work is hard] in.
1949 W. Stevens Let. 12 Dec. (1967) 659 We call the office the rockpile, yet so large a rockpile is a good deal more than that.
1970 C. Major Dict. Afro-Amer. Slang 98 Rock pile, any tall building.
1992 Alabama Game & Fish Feb. 38/1 (caption) This rockpile, which will provide shelter and structure for game fish.
2002 Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press (Nexis) 27 Nov. a13 It's too bad prisons don't have rock piles anymore. Rock piles and sledgehammers seemed to have been replaced by basketball courts and body building equipment and more's the pity.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1830