king's shilling

American  

noun

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

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king's shilling British  

noun

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

2. archaic to enlist in the army

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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.

From BBC

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.

From Forbes

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

From The Guardian

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Soon Maclean had taken the King's Shilling and been enrolled as a private in the Cameron Highlanders.

From Time Magazine Archive