'Sponging house' definitions:

Definition of 'Sponging house'

From: GCIDE
  • Sponging \Spon"ging\ (-j[i^]ng), a. & n. from Sponge, v. [1913 Webster]
  • Sponging house (Eng. Law), a bailiff's or other house in which debtors are put before being taken to jail, or until they compromise with their creditors. At these houses extortionate charges are commonly made for food, lodging, etc. [1913 Webster]