subs. (workmen’s).—A truck-shop. [Probably a corruption of ‘company-shop’: workmen before the passing of certain Truck Acts, having been frequently compelled to make their weekly purchases at shops either kept by, or worked to the profit of, their employer.]
1870. Globe, 24 Sept. The Acts of Parliament which have been passed from time to time in reference to truck are easily evaded, for as a rule no workman is told that he must buy at the COMPY-SHOP, but the workmen well know that if they did not resort thither they would soon be dismissed their employment.
