1. Any
thing,
place, or
circumstance that is extremely
undesirable, as an
unprincipled or
stupid person, a
harsh law, a
vicious prison guard, or a particularly
severe prison.
2. Any thing, place, or circumstance fraught with danger, as an
area too
well policed, a type of
crime,
incurring heavy
penalties.
- american underworld dictionary - 1950