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'the dock'

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big yankee | 03:58 Fri 13th Sep 2002 | Phrases & Sayings
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why do they call the enclosure where the accused stands in court 'the dock'?
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It came from the old Flemish word 'dok', meaning a rabbit-hutch or chicken-coop. In English, it first appeared as criminals' slang in the 16th century for the accused's place. This was presumably based on the similarity in appearance of the farmyard/courtroom structures...and also perhaps on the grounds that one might be taken from it and put to death!
07:41 Fri 13th Sep 2002

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