or padding-ken, subs. phr. (old cant).—A lodging house: cf. DOSS-HOUSE.
1851. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, i. 261. Others resort to the regular PADDING-KENS, or houses of call for vagabonds.
1857. SNOWDEN, Magistrates Assistant, 444, s.v.
1866. Temple Bar, xvi. 184. Let the spikes be what they may they were a great deal better than the PADDING-KENS.
1883. Referee, 25 March, 1, 4. The hotel and lodging-house keepers, the proprietors of PADDING-KENS,… expect to make profit out of the race being held where it is to be held.
1889. Answers, 11 May, 374. Not long ago considerable disturbances took place at this very PADDEN KEN.
1893. P. H. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, xiv. Before you can open a PADDIN-KEN, you must get a licence from the charpering carsey which lasts for a stretch.
