| 释义 |
† Ludgate Obs.
The name (from its situation near the City gate so called) of an ancient debtors' prison in London; phr. † to take Ludgate (see quot. 1585). Hence † Ludgatian (-thian, -tion), a debtor, bankrupt.
1585Higgins Nomenclator 324 Argentariam dissoluere..To play the bankerupt: to take Ludgate. 1600B. Jonson Ev. Man out of Hum. i. i, Alwaies beware you commerce not with Bankroutes, or poore needie Ludgathians. 1606Dekker Sev. Sins i. (Arb.) 11 The Master, the Keepers, and all the Prisoners of Ludgate. Ibid. 12 It was a bird pickt out of purpose (amongst the Ludgathians) that had the basest and lowest voice, and was able in a Terme time, for a throat, to giue any prisoner great ods for ye box at the grate. 1607[E. Sharpham] Cupid's Whirligig iii. i. E 3, I am none of these Ludgations that beg for fourscore and ten poore men: my suite is only for my selfe. a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Lud's-bulwark, Ludgate Prison. |