shilling

American  

[shil-ing] / ˈʃɪl ɪŋ /

noun

1. a cupronickel coin and former monetary unit of the United Kingdom, the 20th part of a pound, equal to 12 pence: retained in circulation equal to 5 new pence after decimalization in 1971. s.

2. a former monetary unit of various other nations, as Australia, Fiji, Ghana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, and Nigeria, equal to one twentieth of a pound or 12 pence.

3. the monetary unit of Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda, equal to 100 cents.

4. any of various coins and moneys of account used in various parts of the U.S. in the 18th and 19th centuries.

5. shilling mark.

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shilling British  

/ ˈʃɪlɪŋ /

noun

1. Abbreviation: s.   sh.  a former British and Australian silver or cupronickel coin worth one twentieth of a pound: not minted in Britain since 1970

2. the standard monetary unit of Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda: divided into 100 cents

3. an old monetary unit of the US varying in value in different states

4.  /-.  (in combination) an indication of the strength and character of a beer, referring to the price after duty that was formerly paid per barrel

   sixty-shilling

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shilling Idioms  

1. see cut off (with a shilling).

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Etymology

Origin of shilling

before 900; Middle English; Old English scilling; cognate with Dutch schelling, German Schilling, Old Norse skillingr, Gothic skillings

Explanation

A shilling is an old British coin, roughly equal to a nickel. Twenty shillings were equal to one pound. The shilling isn't used any more in Great Britain, although other countries, like Uganda and Kenya, still use shillings. It was a small silver colored coin with a small value, similar to the nickel in the United States, that was used from the 1500's until Britain decimalised its currency in 1971 and stopped making shillings. The popular nickname for a shilling was a "bob."

Example Sentences

As long as they’re employed by NASA, they won’t be shilling for Nutella.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

And when you remember that those words, and all those other businesses shilling the same fantasy, are coming from billionaires who experience that reality every day, it’s insulting, isn't it?

From Salon • May 7, 2025

Bryant herself would lose her job shilling for Florida orange juice.

From Slate • Jan. 11, 2025

The second phase was professional creators — those who set out to make a living shilling products.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 21, 2023

He told her about the shilling he had found, and the good-luck spell.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham