BELLY PLEA


Meaning of BELLY PLEA in English

The plea of pregnancy, generally adduced by female felons capitally convicted, which they take care to provide for, previous to their trials; every gaol having, as the Beggar's Opera informs us, one or more child getters, who qualify the ladies for that expedient to procure a respite.

Slang English vocab.      Английский сленговый словарь.