A more thorough explanation:

Compter

Compter was a type of prison where people who owed money were sent to stay until they paid off their debts.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, many people who couldn't pay their debts were sent to compters. For example, if someone borrowed money from a lender and couldn't pay it back, they might be sent to a compter until they could pay off their debt.

Another example is the character of Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." In the story, Scrooge threatens to send his debtor, Bob Cratchit, to the compter if he doesn't pay back his loan.

These examples show how compters were used as a form of punishment for those who couldn't pay their debts. It was a way to force people to pay back what they owed, even if it meant being imprisoned.