subs. (old).—1. A prison; a ‘peni(TENTI)ary.’ At one time applied to the Clerkenwell House of Detention, now the Central Depôt of the Parcels Post.
1859. CAROLINE W. LEAKEY, The Broad Arrow, II. xvi. Prisoners’ barracks, sir—us calls it TENCH [the Hobart Town Penitentiary].
1887. J. W. HORSLEY, Jottings from Jail, i. I fell at Isleworth for being found in a conservatory adjoining a parlour, and got remanded to the TENCH (House of Detention) for nine days.
2. (venery).—The female pudendum: see MONOSYLLABLE.
