temple-pickling, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

temple-pickling n.

[proper name the Temple, two of the Inns of Court (the Inner and Middle Temple) + SE pickle, i.e. to ‘bathe’ in liquid. During 17C any bailiff caught within the limits of the temple was automatically thus punished]

(UK Und.) the ducking of court officials beneath a pump.

c.1698

170017501800

1811

c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Temple-pickling, the Pumping of Bailives, Bumms, Setters, Pick-pockets, &c.
1725		New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1737, 1759, 1760, 1776		Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.