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Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Steel, the n.

also Steele, the

[abbr. bastille n.]

1. Coldbath Fields Prison.

1811		Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: He has been educated at the steel, and took his last degree at college; he has received his education at the house of correction, and was hanged at Newgate.
1840		Flash Mirror 10: When did you come out of the Steel, my kiddy?
1841		County Chron., Surrey Herald 26 Oct. 3/4: He had since been in the ‘Stone Jug’ (Newgate), the ‘Horse’ (City Bridewell), the ‘Lane’ (Horsemonger Lane Goal), [and] the "Steele’ (House of Correction).
1856		H. Mayhew Great World of London II 82: The cant or thieves’ names for several London prisons or ‘sturbons’ [...] is as follows:- [...] House of Correction, Coldbath Fields ... The Steel.
1856		G.L. Chesterton Revelations of Prison Life I 21: As an omnibus is familiarly styled a ‘bus,’ so is the word Bastile abbreviated into ‘stile,’ pronounced ‘steel.’ Consequently, as often as I was seen, and openly recognized in the street, I was hailed by professional thieves as ‘the governor of the ‘steel’.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 384/2: I was once in ‘Steel’ (Coldbath-fields) for begging.
1877		J. Greenwood Dick Temple I 219: ‘And the Steel – the place to which Mr. Eggshells alludes in connection with his retirement?’ ‘Coldbaths Fields,’ responded Mr. Badger, promptly, ‘quod – gaol – prison – that’s the Steel.’.
1885		M. Davitt Leaves from a Prison Diary I 152: I was luggd before the beak, who gave me six doss in the Steel.
1895		Belfast Wkly News 21 Dec. 3/2: The coppers were put fly to her, and after a two stretch in the ‘Steel’ [...] she left the ‘Smoke’’.
1906		D. Stewart Vultures of the City in Illus. Police News 15 Dec. 12/1: Stab will land some of us in the pig! He only came out of the Steel (House of Correction, Pentonville) yesterday, and plays this ’ere game to-night.

2. a prison.

1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 405/1: I went to see him once in the quod; some calls it ‘the Steel’.
1869		J. Greenwood Seven Curses of London 120: Jerry, who had been recently ‘copped’ (taken) and was expected to pass ‘a tail piece in the steel’ (three months in prison).
1877		Five Years’ Penal Servitude 5: A series of rapid inquiries as to [...] had I ever been in the ‘steel,’ a slang name for one of the large metropolitan prisons.
1891		F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 413: I got a charge of small shot in my legs and a treemoon o’ reesbin for bluey-crackin, and when I come out ’er steel I padded the hoof to Start.
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 74: Six Doss in the Steel, six months in gaol.
1901		Argus (Melbourne) 20 Sept. 6/4: [The sentence] may be six doss in the steel, which is six months, or double it - a stretch, while imprisonment for a long period is a jade, and for life a winder.
1909		J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 21/1: Bastile (Street, 18 cent. on). Any place of detention, but generally a prison or a workhouse. More commonly a ‘Steel’.
1935		A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks.
1955		N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 239/1: six doss in the steel – a jail sentence of six months.

3. a treadmill.

1839		H. Brandon Dict. of the Flash or Cant Lang. 165/2: The Steel – the treadmill.
1857		in ‘Ducange Anglicus’ Vulgar Tongue.
1882		Sydney Sl. Dict. (2 edn) 8: Steel - The Treadmill.

In phrases

on the steel (adj.)

(Aus./UK Und.) imprisoned, thus forced to be on the treadmill.

c.1863		gloss. in Occurence Book of York River Lockup in Seal (1999) 37: Was a mushroom faker, has been on the steel for snamming a wedge sneezer so I must hoop it.
1889		Clarkson & Richardson Police! 322: On the treadmill ... Grinding wind, on the steel.