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sweatshop†
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.
n. — Slang
a factory where workers are employed at low wages for long hours of toil.
See: sweat factory
The term derives from the practice of "sweaters" in the highly competitive middle-man shops in the garment industry driving underpaid needlewomen and tailors, often immigrants.
Quotations
1903
No more strikes, No more lockouts, No more hold ups, No more unions, Healthy niggers sound in wind and limb well broke to handcuffs, two pair of genuine sweat shop overalls given with each piece of ebony.
1916
Also, if the Jews in their sweatshops went against the labour unions, why was he so hostile to the Jews?
1963
In those days [the Montreal garment industry] was considered the sweatshop industry.