Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A state of discomfort or misery; hence, anything that causes uneasiness; specifically, an old name for a punishment causing bodily discomfort or pain, as the stocks or the pillory, or some especially uncomfortable part of a prison, as a very small cell.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun engraving An old slang name for the pillory, stocks, etc., of a prison.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun UK, obsolete, slang The
pillory ,stocks , etc., of aprison .
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word little-ease.
Examples
-
To be sure, you are not familiar with that dungeon cell that was called the little-ease in the Middle Ages.
Stress Positions 2004
-
Cheer up, sir! or, by this good liquor, we shall banish thee from the joys of blithesome company, into the mists of melancholy and the land of little-ease.
Kenilworth 2004
-
Mac-Guffog, the officer by whom Bertram had at first been apprehended, and who was now in attendance upon him, was keeper of this palace of little-ease.
Chapter XLIV 1917
-
Tower of London, where they will examine you by the rack, and thrust you into the little-ease to meditate of your obstinacy; and then will you desire that you had spoken without such harsh pressure, and had listened to the words of counsel and warning given you by those who have your welfare at heart.
For the Faith Evelyn Everett-Green 1894
-
Mac – Guffog, the officer by whom Bertram had at first been apprehended, and who was now in attendance upon him, was keeper of this palace of little-ease.
Guy Mannering 1815
-
Mac-Guffog, the officer by whom Bertram had at first been apprehended, and who was now in attendance upon him, was keeper of this palace of little-ease.
Guy Mannering, Or, the Astrologer — Volume 02 Walter Scott 1801
-
Mac-Guffog, the officer by whom Bertram had at first been apprehended, and who was now in attendance upon him, was keeper of this palace of little-ease.
Guy Mannering — Complete Walter Scott 1801
-
Cheer up, sir! or, by this good liquor, we shall banish thee from the joys of blithesome company, into the mists of melancholy and the land of little-ease.
Kenilworth Walter Scott 1801
-
Mac-Guffog, the officer by whom Bertram had at first been apprehended, and who was now in attendance upon him, was keeper of this palace of little-ease.
Guy Mannering, Or, the Astrologer — Complete Walter Scott 1801
-
On the morrow Pashur gave Jeremiah his discharge, brought him out of the stocks (v. 3); it is probable that he continued him there, in little-ease, as long as was usual to continue any in that punishment.
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume IV (Isaiah to Malachi) 1721
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.