subs. (prison).—A lash of the cat-o’-nine-tails, Cf., CLAWED-OFF, sense 1.
1876. GREENWOOD, A Night in a Work-house. Oh! cuss that old Kerr, who condemned me to twenty-five CLAWS with the cat.
CLAWS FOR BREAKFAST, subs. phr. (prison).—See quot.
1883. GREENWOOD, In Strange Company (2nd ed.), 131. A ruffian, being uncertain as to the morning when he is to have, as he himself would say, ‘CLAWS FOR BREAKFAST,’ is in the habit of lying night after night in a sweat of terror lest to-morrow should be the doleful day.
