E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Tied House (A).
A retail shop, stocked by a wholesale dealer, and managed by some other person not the owner of the stock. The wholesale dealer appoints the manager.
1
“There are tied houses in the drapery, grocery, dairy, boot and shoe, hardware, liquor, and book trades. Whiteley’s, if rumour is to be trusted, is a tied house; and the majority of Italian restaurants in London begin by being tied to the Gattis.”—Liberty Review, 14th April, 1894, p. 310, col. 1.
