shilling
/ˈʃɪlɪŋ
/noun
1A former British coin and monetary unit equal to one twentieth of a pound or twelve pence.There were twelve pence to a shilling and twenty shillings to a pound....
- For the purpose of this article I will be figuring a shilling to be worth an average 5 pence (48 shillings to the pound).
- Buy a little book ruled for the purpose for pounds, shillings and pence and keep an account of cash received and expended.
2The basic monetary unit in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, equal to 100 cents.As the Kenya shilling fights its way up against the dollar, shareholders are capitalizing on the stock market before, inevitably, the prices start coming down....
- After joining, I got a loan of 7,000 Kenya shillings.
- Usually a two-kilogram tin of both mbuni and cherry go for only five shillings.
Phrases
not the full shilling
take the King's (or Queen's) shilling
Origin
Old English scilling, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schelling and German Schilling.