Old Doss, the, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Old Doss, the n.

[doss n.¹ (1); the prison, on the site of Henry VIII’s palace of Bridewell, flourished 1556–1855]

1. the Bridewell prison, sited on the banks of the Fleet River.

1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.

2. (US Und.) the Tombs prison, NYC.

1859

3. any prison.

1901

Argus (Melbourne) 20 Sept. 6/4: When finally put away in the old doss, or, if it be solitary confinement, the ice house [etc].