phr. (London thieves’).—Bolted; run away.
1819. J. H. VAUX, Memoirs. A term founded on the cant word ‘bolt,’ and merely a fanciful variation very common among flash persons, there being in London a famous inn so called. It is customary when a man has run away from his lodgings, broken out of jail, or made any other sudden movement, to say ‘the BOLT-IN-TUN is concerned,’ or ‘he’s gone to the BOLT-IN-TUN’ instead of simply saying, ‘he has bolted,’ etc.
