shilling

[ shil-ing ]

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.

shilling

/ ˈʃɪlɪŋ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of shilling¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of shilling¹

Old English scilling; related to Old Norse skillingr, Gothic skilliggs, Old High German skilling

Idioms and Phrases

see cut off (with a shilling) .

Example Sentences

Kate Moss's Self Tanner: Kate Moss is now shilling self-tanner.

From The Daily Beast

For him, "elitism" effectively means putting intellectual honesty before partisan shilling.

From The Daily Beast

The hootenanny on political websites about the contest being up for grabs is shilling for advertising dollars.

From The Daily Beast

Shilling, a native of Arkansas, pleaded guilty to a pair of wire-fraud counts last July.

From The Daily Beast

According to court papers, Williams met Shilling at an Inglewood restaurant on July 10, 2006.

From The Daily Beast

The King now increased it to the enormous sum of two shilling and ten pence.

From Project Gutenberg

He would haggle in a bargain for a shilling, and economize in things beneath a wise man's notice or consideration.

From Project Gutenberg

Many a fine meerschaum keeps up its cheerful fire on a shilling a-week.

From Project Gutenberg

The penny at that time was equal to a shilling of the present day, and would, relatively, purchase as much.

From Project Gutenberg

It ran from Leicester to Loughborough and back at a fare of one shilling, and carried 570 passengers.

From Project Gutenberg