1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. i., p. 5. The ‘steel,’ a slang name of the large metropolitan prisons, as the gate is for Newgate.
To break gates, verb. phr.—(University).—To stay out of college after hours.
To be at Gates, verb. phr. (Winchester College).—To assemble in Seventh Chamber passage, preparatory to going to Hills or Cathedral.
1870. Mansfield, School Life, p. 149. Soon after morning chapel on a holiday or a remedy all the boys assembled at gates.
On the gate, adv. phr. (thieves’).—On remand. [[124]]
Gate-Bill, subs. (University).—The record of an undergraduate’s failure to be within the precincts of his college at, or before, a specified time at night.
1803. Gradus ad Cant., p. 128. To avoid gate-bills he will be out at night as late as he pleases … climb over the college wall, and fee his gyp well.
Gate-money, subs. (colloquial).—The charge for admission to a race-meeting. See Gate, subs., sense 1.
1885. Daily News, 25 May, p. 3, c. 2. The truth of the matter is, that so far as sport goes, open meetings like those at Bath and Salisbury cannot stand up against gate-money meetings such as Manchester.
1888. Sporting Life, 10 Dec. The comfort that is brought home at our great gate-money meetings gatherings to every visitor.