prison gaten.

1560 W. Baldwin Funeralles Edward VI sig. B.iv Lord how glad the goast was of the stroke, For when it sawe the prison gate was broke, Fast furth it flewe, and vp to heaven went.

1580 A. Munday Zelauto ii. 91 At the prison gate I saw Mica Sheffola (the Ladyes Brother).

1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream i. ii. 30 Shiuering shocks, shall breake the locks of prison gates . View more context for this quotation

1683 A. Wood Life (1848) App. vi The rioters..attempted to break open the prison gate.

1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle IV. cx. 273 He was found at the prison-gate waiting for Gauntlet.

1776 E. Carter Poems Several Occasions (ed. 3) 96 Yet check that impious Thought, my gentle Friend..Which hopeless sees unfinish'd Life descend, And ever bars the Prison Gates of Death.

1794 H. M. Williams Lett. France (1795) I. 44 He used through the lonely day to count the hours till the prison-gates were closed.

1865 R. H. Kellogg Life & Death in Rebel Prisons 299 I took my position near the prison-gate, with two of my comrades.

1900 Westm. Gaz. 8 Jan. 5/3 As a leading member of the Army's ‘Prison Gate’ branch, Archie was in his element, and many an old gaol-bird was brought to a better frame of mind..by Archie's judicious ministrations.

1901 Westm. Gaz. 28 Aug. 8/2 The Salvation Army never turns a deaf ear to any appeal of the kind, and the applicant is now in the prison-gate home.

a1902 S. Butler Way of All Flesh (1903) lxix. 312 He was at the prison gate, and in another moment was at liberty.

1916 J. Joyce Portrait of Artist v. 242 From the gross earth or what it brings forth, from sound and shape and colour which are the prison gates of our soul.

1996 Big Issue 2 Dec. 5/2 The book contains no less than 25 slang terms for police officers..and its purpose..is to break down barriers between those inside and outside the prison gates.