Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(UK Und.) ‘a fellow who receives poundage for procuring customers for damaged goods’ (Kent, Modern Flash Dict., 1835); the share of a prostitute’s fee which is given to the madam of a brothel.

1788		G.A. Stevens Adventures of a Speculist I 250: Out of every guinea which they get by a bedfellow, the Bawd has five shillings, which is called Poundage.
1835		G. Kent Modern Flash Dict. 25: Poundage cove – a fellow who receives poundage for procuring customers for damaged goods.
1848		Flash Dict. in Sinks of London Laid Open [as cit. 1835].