Marshalsea

[ mahr-shuh l-see ]

/ ˈmɑr ʃəlˌsi /

the court of the marshal of the royal household.

a debtors' prison in London, abolished in 1842.

Origin of Marshalsea

1350–1400; Middle English marchalsye, variant of marschalcie. See marshal, -cy

Froissart applies the term to the Marshalsea prison in London.

Notes and Queries, Number 32, June 8, 1850 |Various
Bonner, the most justly obnoxious of them all, was confined in the 114 Marshalsea.

Constitutional History of England, Vol 1 of 3 |Henry Hallam
He locked himself up as carefully as he locked up the Marshalsea debtors.

Little Dorrit |Charles Dickens
The Marshalsea had several notable neighbors in its own line of trade.

In Jail with Charles Dickens |Alfred Trumble

Little Dorrit parted from them at the door, and hastened back to the Marshalsea.

Little Dorrit |Charles Dickens

Marshalsea

/ (ˈmɑːʃəlˌsiː) /

(formerly in England) a court held before the knight marshal: abolished 1849

a prison for debtors and others, situated in Southwark, London: abolished in 1842

C14: see marshal, -cy