sponging house

1 definition found

sponging house - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Sponging \Spon"ging\ (-j[i^]ng),
     a. & n. from Sponge, v.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Sponging house (Eng. Law), a bailiff's or other house in
        which debtors are put before being taken to jail, or until
        they compromise with their creditors. At these houses
        extortionate charges are commonly made for food, lodging,
        etc.
        [1913 Webster]