First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
shilling
noun shil·ling \ˈshi-liŋ\
: a British coin used before 1971 that was equal to 1/20 of a British pound
: the basic unit of money in Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda
Full Definition of SHILLING
1
a : a former monetary unit of the United Kingdom equal to 12 pence or 1⁄20 pound b : a former monetary unit equal to 1⁄20 pound of any of various countries in or formerly in the Commonwealth of Nations
2
: a coin representing one shilling
3
: any of several early American coins
4
— see money table
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Origin of SHILLING
Middle English, from Old English scilling; akin to Old High German skilling, a gold coin
SHILLING Defined for Kids
shilling
noun shil·ling \ˈshi-liŋ\
Definition of SHILLING for Kids
: an old British coin equal to 1⁄20 pound
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