king's shilling

noun

1. (until 1879) a shilling given a recruit in the British army to bind his enlistment contract.

king's shilling

noun

1. (until 1879) a shilling paid to new recruits to the British army

2. archaic,  to enlist in the army

Example Sentences

According to the local history club, a recruiting sergeant for the army had come to Hinckley and was singing the praises of taking the King's shilling.

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Get the farmboys drunk in the pub and then when they wake up in the morning they’ve already signed up for the King’s Shilling.

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Any woman who fulfils those criteria is more than welcome to take the king's shilling!

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Has he not been made notorious as “Sergeant Kite,” the unscrupulous ruffian who inveigled the country yokel into drink and the acceptance of the King’s shilling at the roadside inn?

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The youngest son of a poor, but proud, Scotch laird, he had taken the “king’s shilling” when a lad of eighteen, and after seeing much active service in all parts of the world, was awarded an ensign’s commission in the “Cape Mounted Riflemen;” in which corps he remained until he obtained his troop, when he retired on half-pay, and took to farming.

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