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. 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

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

She had to pay five shillings every month for PJ’s upkeep in the institution.

From BBC

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

She was then assigned to a farm, where she was paid 32 shillings a week.

From BBC

It’s a haze that features four women shilling themselves out for a hot date with a Chalamet.

From Salon

Stone, who was born on 13 June 1932 in Chelsea, began taking photographs aged 13 after his mother gave him a Box Brownie Kodak camera that cost two shillings and sixpence.

From BBC