goldfish n.3
1. (US) the beating of a prisoner to extract a confession; also the rubber hose used in such beatings; thus see the goldfish, to suffer a beating; show the goldfish, to beat up [the prisoner is the isolated goldfish, the interrogators gather round].
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | It’s a Racket! 226: GOLDFISH — Piece of rubber hose or some other instrument capable of inflicting torture but without leaving marks on the body, used for extorting confessions from criminals; e.g. ‘Feeding the Goldfish’ — obtaining a confession. | |
| Put on the Spot 79: Here [goldfish room] detectives vented their sadistic wrath against helpless men, flagellating them with the rubber hose and pummeling them with their beefy fists. This was known as ‘seeing the goldfish’. | |
| Jack-Roller 147: Prisoners are herded and kicked and cuffed and razzed like brutes. This is called ‘showing the goldfish’ or the ‘third degree’. | |
| ‘Und. “Lingo” Brought Up-to-Date’ L.A. Times 8 Nov. K3: GOLDFISH: Third degree; a police beating. | |
| Criminal Sl. (rev. edn). |
2. (US Und.) a prisoner standing in an identification line-up.
| Und. and Prison Sl. | |
| Und. Speaks n.p.: Gold fish, prisoners in a police show-up. |
In compounds
1. (US, also goldfish room) an interrogation room in a police station.
| Put on the Spot 79: There was a small back room which was known to every crook in the city. The ‘goldfish bowl’. | |
| ‘Finger Man’ in Pearls Are a Nuisance (1964) 111: I’d like to get the Mex in the goldfish room with me personal. | |
| Criminal Sl. (rev. edn). | |
| ‘Lang. of Traffic Policemen’ in AS XXXVII:4 269: goldfish bowl, n. An interrogation room in a jail or detention station. |
2. any small room where a discussion takes place.
| Ladies’ Man (1985) 113: Maybe Candy was getting back at us for goofing on his fatness in that goldfish bowl on Eighth Street. |