scroby, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

scroby n.

also scrobe, scrobey

[? dial. scrobble, a quarrel, a problem, a scratching]

(UK Und.)

a punishment of flogging, whether private or judicial.

1781		G. Parker View of Society II 75: The Scrobey is being whipped in the Sessons-House yard before the Justices.
1859		Matsell Vocabulum 77: scrobe A private chastisement.
1869		J. Greenwood Seven Curses of London 89: Whipping while in prison – scroby or claws for breakfast.
1935		R.T. Hopkins Life and Death at the Old Bailey 64: The following crook’s words and phrases date from the days of the old Old Bailey: [...] a whipping in prison before the justices – scroby.

get scroby (v.)

to be whipped, as a judicial punishment.

1859		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. 88: scroby ‘to get SCROBY,’ to be whipped in prison before the justices.
1861		Melbourne Punch 3 Oct. ‘City Police Court’ 234/1: The Mayor.– Well, upon my sivvy, you’re a pretty pair of thimble twisters, you are; and it would serve you both right if you got scroby.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict [as cit. 1859].

tip the scroby (for breakfast) (v.)

to whip, as a judicial punishment.

1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Scroby. To be tipt the scroby; to be whipt before the justices.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.