Strawyard

subs. (tramps’).—See quot.

  1851–61.  H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, II. 138. They come back to London to avail themselves of the shelter of the night asylums or refuges for the destitute (usually called STRAW-YARDS by the poor).

  Hence, LIKE A STRAWYARD BULL, phr. (common).—A jocose retort to the question, ‘How are you?’ ‘Like a STRAWYARD BULL, full of fuck and half-starved.’

  See STRAW, subs. 3.