- king's shilling
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(until 1879) a shilling given a recruit in the British army to bind his enlistment contract. Also called, when a queen was sovereign, queen's shilling.
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Universalium. 2010.
king's shilling
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King's shilling — The King s shilling for many years a soldier s daily pay, before stoppages was the shilling given to recruits of the British army and the Royal Navy of the 18th and 19th centuries. The expression to take the King s shilling meant that a man… … Wikipedia
king's shilling — noun (in phr. take the King s shilling) archaic enlist in the army. [from the practice of giving new recruits a shilling.] … English new terms dictionary
king's shilling — noun : a shilling whose acceptance by a recruit from a recruiting officer constituted until 1879 a binding enlistment in the British army he s taken the king s shilling … Useful english dictionary
King's shilling — /kɪŋz ˈʃɪlɪŋ/ (say kingz shiling) noun 1. the, a shilling given to a new recruit to the British army, acceptance of which constituted, until 1879, a binding enlistment. –phrase 2. take the King s (or Queen s) shilling, British Obsolete to enlist… …
King's shilling — noun a shilling accepted by new recruits when tricked into or agreeing to enlist into the British army or navy during the 18th and 19th centuries … Wiktionary
take the king's shilling — see under ↑shilling • • • Main Entry: ↑king … Useful english dictionary
take the King's shilling — archaic enlist in the army. → king s shilling … English new terms dictionary
take the King's shilling — ► take the King s (or Queen s) shilling Brit. enlist as a soldier. [ORIGIN: with reference to the former practice of paying a shilling to a new recruit.] Main Entry: ↑shilling … English terms dictionary
Shilling (British coin) — In the United Kingdom, a shilling was a coin used from the reign of Henry VII until decimalisation in 1971. Before decimalisation there were twenty shillings to the pound and twelve pence to the shilling, and thus 240 pence to the pound. At… … Wikipedia
shilling — ► NOUN 1) a former British coin and monetary unit equal to one twentieth of a pound or twelve pence. 2) the basic monetary unit of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. ● not the full shilling Cf. ↑not the full shilling ● take the King s (or Queen s)… … English terms dictionary
