Shilling
['ʃɪlɪŋ]
Definition
(n.) A silver coin, and money of account, of Great Britain and its dependencies, equal to twelve pence, or the twentieth part of a pound, equivalent to about twenty-four cents of the United States currency.
(n.) In the United States, a denomination of money, differing in value in different States. It is not now legally recognized.
(n.) The Spanish real, of the value of one eight of a dollar, or 12/ cets; -- formerly so called in New York and some other States. See Note under 2.
Editor: Lora
Definition
n. an English silver coin=12 pence.—Take the shilling to enlist as a soldier by accepting the recruiting-officer's shilling—discontinued since 1879.
Typist: Vance
Examples
- Every shilling of my money is tied up. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Gentlemen all, observe the dark stain upon this gentleman's hat, no wider than a shilling, but thicker than a half-crown. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- She had had a little black profile of him done for a shilling, and this was hung up by the side of another portrait over her bed. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- A nod for each shilling. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Only there's one thing I order you to avoid, which, if you do not, I'll cut you off with a shilling, by Jove; and that's gambling. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- At last he began to pay me in halfpence at a time; and was full two hours getting by easy stages to a shilling. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- I suppose Crawley had not a shilling in the world. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- I bought nearly half a pint of their money for a shilling myself. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- Before the Act of parliament which put a stop to the circulation of ten and five shilling notes, it filled a still greater part of that circulation. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- The coachman answered, A shilling--unless you wish to make it more. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- Then it must be a shilling, observed the coachman. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- I can cut him off with a shilling if I like. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- I know that if a shilling were given me by Mr. Quinion at any time, I spent it in a dinner or a tea. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- A shilling changes masters more frequently than a guinea, and a halfpenny more frequently than a shilling. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- He had a shilling in his pocket; and he dined sumptuously, he tells me, on a black-pudding, an eel-pie, and a bottle of ginger-beer. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- Sixteen shillings sterling, we are told by Mr Byron, was the price of a good horse in the capital of Chili. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Some pounds, odd shillings, and halfpence, I think, were mentioned. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- The price is eight shillings the quarter of wheat. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Four shillings, Mr. Mawmsey? George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- Its real value was equal to ten shillings and threepence of our present money. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Twelve shillings a week, even when they are an old man's wages, bury themselves. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Not five shillings, sir; nor five pence. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- In 1425, twelve shillings contained about the same quantity of silver as four-and-twenty shillings of our present money. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- It is in England taxed at three shillings and fourpence a bushel; about three times the original price of the commodity. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Their wholesale price was six shillings, but the retailer would get twelve or more. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- The youth shook his head Five shillings? Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- He's never content unless he gets my yellow-sealed wine, which costs me ten shillings a bottle, hang him! William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Meantime, there's a few shillings for you, Grace, just to keep the pot boiling till custom comes. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Five shillings turned is six, turned again it is seven and threepence, and so on till it becomes a hundred pounds. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- Six shillings and eightpence was then, and long afterwards, reckoned the average price of a quarter of wheat. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
Editor: Murdoch