E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Marsh [Le Marais].
The pit of the National Convention, between Mountain benches on one side, and those occupied by the ministerial party and the opposition on the other. These middle men or “flats” were “swamped,” or enforcés dans un marais by those of more decided politics. (See PLAIN.)
