subs. (colloquial).—A place of abode, or business; a crib: see DIGGINGS. Formerly a box at a theatre: see ROOM. In quot. 1659 = a sheep-pen.
1605. SHAKESPEARE, King Lear, iii. 3. Poor Tom whom the foul fiend … hath laid knives under his pillow, and halters in his PEW; set ratsbane by his porridge.
1613. WEBSTER, The Devil’s Law-case, iv. 1.
| Ari. Where? in a PEW of your office! | |
| San. I have been dry-founder’d in’t this four years, | |
| Seldom found non-resident from my desk. |
1659. MILTON, Means to Remove Hirelings. His sheep oft-times sit the while to as little purpose of benefitting, as the sheep in their PEWS at Smythfield.
